It is well known that foreign language skills help to remove language barriers, as well as fears between people. So, it comes as no surprise that learning languages removes the prejudices that distinguish citizens of other countries of the world from compatriots. However, sometimes even experienced students find it difficult to force themselves to sit down for cramming. In this case, flashcards come to the rescue.
What Do Flash Cards Constitute for Students?
For a start, Anki decks with flashcards imply an effective way to memorize necessary information. This system is quite familiar to plenty of students from school since this is a most often used scheme of productive memorizing new terms and concepts in a foreign language or historical dates. Such flash cards usually constitute ordinary pieces of paper, cardboards. They can also be images in electronic form with two visible sides.
There is a word, a term, a definition or some kind of phenomenon on one side, and the other one contains a translation, a brief essence or an explanation to it. Such flashcards assist in securely keeping useful data into long-term memory.
Why Does This Memory System Work?
This way of learning words and topics is very effective and here’s why. The thing is that when we just read a summary or listen to a teacher, we consume information in a passive way, but not entirely. So, some part of it is really deposited in the memory, whilst other information simply flies out of the head. To better remember the necessary information, and most importantly, to fish it out of the “the mind palace`” in time, you have to set in motion active memorization, as when answering a familiar question.
How to Use Flashcards the Right Way?
When the first block of cards is already learnt by heart, it’s time to start working with them, that is, you should move on to constant repetition.
Repeat the Information before Bed
Without a doubt, sleep is a vital process for remembering for both pupils and college students. In non-REM sleep, the things we got to know during the day are built into long-term memory. It’s no wonder, if you do repetition before going to bed, the chances of success are really high.
Pronounce the Answers Out Loud
This action will surely assist you in remembering the essential information better as you use the auditory type of memory. More than that, to study foreign words, this is completely obligatory. If not, you will read well in English, French or other languages, nevertheless, you will fail in pronouncing it correctly.
Schedule a Recurrence
Not to repeat over and over again what you have already learned, and to concentrate on flashcards that are really difficult for you to remember, make use of the Leitman repetition method. To do this, all elements are separated into three general categories, namely:
- the words that the student knows poorly;
- the words that the student knows satisfactorily;
- the words the student assimilates well.
Each group of these flashcards needs its own box or just space. The first box should contain unfamiliar cards and it should be looked through every day. As for the contents of the second box, it should be repeated twice a week. The words from the third box should be repeated only once a week.
The more often you learn the card information, the better the material is remembered. The most challenging moment in the method is to automatically force yourself to replenish the file cabinet on time. The great news is that you don’t have to regularly print and cut cards for the electronic application to cope with it. To do this, there are special platforms that help plan great classes and track students’ progress.
What Portals for Working with Flashcards Are the Most Effective?
In fact, there are a plethora of useful mobile services and applications for memorizing words. Three of the most notable services for memorizing words with flashcards are described below.
Anki PRO
The presented application for working with flashcards is based on an advanced word spaced repetition algorithm. This memorization method allows you to increase your vocabulary when learning languages for people of all ages. In addition, it is a very effective method of preparing for important exams and learning brand-new materials.
The program automatically sorts the words/phrases/collocations in the right way and then issues them for active repetition in accordance with a verified schedule. This process is extremely convenient, you take some cards with words and learn them at a time. Meanwhile, you should not worry about repetition, as the application will offer to repeat the words at the right time.
Quizlet
This service helps you create your own learning modules and share them with other students. Keep in mind that you can make cards using images only in the paid version. The program has a friendly interface and is very popular among students.
LinguaLeo
This portal is a large and multifunctional service for learning English. There are videos with subtitles, texts, exercises, tests, and many opportunities in terms of memorizing words. You’ll find hundreds of ready-made word-sets by topic, as well as a handy “Workouts” section with 12 modes of memorizing words, including flashcards, typing by ear, crossword, and the like.
The Bottom Line
If you want to learn a lot of words, then flash cards will help you. You can either make them yourself or use handy mobile apps like Anki Pro. This service really works for college students.