Anki, The Best Tool if Done Right
Duolingo is working great (?), why should I change to Anki?
Duolingo has a very poor methodology. Duolingo developers are not language teachers or linguists—they confessed they didn't know anything about language teaching. They were computer experts who wanted to create an app. They went to a library to search for methods of language teaching... It's just ironic they ended up choosing the most outdated way to learn a language: the “Grammar-Translation Method” (and they left the grammar out, to make things worse). The whole foundation of the course is to listen to and translate random, isolated sentences without any context—many of which don't even make sense.
Most students have used—or at least heard of—Duolingo. A few have used Memrise, and just a couple have tried Quizlet. Yet when asking if they have used Anki, most replies are: "I have, but a long time ago," or "I have, but I never understood it."
One main issue with Anki is its lack of color. It is a plain and simple window that looks about as friendly as Jack the Ripper. But under that plain and simple surface lies a complex program with the power to make you learn vocabulary faster than you ever thought possible. You're right—it might be boring just to use Anki without any customization. But believe me when I say: "it is the best thing you can use when you start learning a language." You just have to have the right Anki Deck. 😉
Spaced Repetition System (SRS)
Anki uses a scientifically proven method called spaced repetition to help users efficiently retain new information in their long-term memory. This system ensures that you review flashcards at increasing intervals, prioritizing cards you struggle with and reducing the frequency of cards you know well.
Studying with Anki will not only improve the retention of words but also decrease the time you spend reviewing them. Traditionally, classes or courses give you a list of words to memorize before the next class, and students try their best to memorize them—only to find out the next day that they've forgotten most of them. Anki solves this problem by providing a system where your only job is to review every day. Forget about when to review—let Anki take care of it.
The Forgetting Curve
It is a psychological concept proposed by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in the late 19th century. It illustrates the decline of memory retention over time, showing how information is lost when there is no attempt to retain it. The curve demonstrates that newly learned information is quickly forgotten, with the rate of forgetting decreasing as time passes.
Ebbinghaus found that memory loss is exponential—meaning that a significant amount of information is forgotten shortly after learning, and the rate of forgetting decreases as time goes on. The forgetting curve can be mitigated through various memory techniques, such as spaced repetition, which involves reviewing information at increasingly longer intervals to strengthen memory retention. And this is where Anki comes in.
Anki Enters The Challenge
Released in 2006 by Damien Elmes, Anki is a powerful and versatile flashcard program designed to help users memorize and retain information more effectively.
The primary feature of Anki is its use of spaced repetition, a learning technique based on the forgetting curve. Spaced repetition involves reviewing information at increasingly longer intervals, allowing learners to optimize their memory retention. Anki's algorithm determines the optimal intervals for each card, ensuring that users review information just as they are about to forget it. This makes Anki particularly popular among language learners, medical students, and anyone who needs to memorize large amounts of information.
Anki is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Anki's customization options and extensive functionality have made it a favorite tool for learners worldwide. Users can create their own flashcard decks or download pre-made decks shared by others... but this is also where one of the main issues with Anki lies.
All That Glitters is Not Gold
We understand the impulse of downloading shared decks from Anki with thousands of cards. The more, the better—you might think. If you go to AnkiWeb Shared Decks, you might find decks with 5,000 / 7,000 or even 21,000 cards in them. Go ahead, try them. If they work for you, then great. But keep in mind that these decks were made by someone learning Spanish and just selecting words that might not be useful for you. Hence, you will be wasting time learning words you are not using right away. Plus, some might have audio from a robot—or none at all.
The biggest problem with most shared decks is that they are [insert here a BIG number] words. Just words. Vocabulary is better learned through context, and these decks only show isolated words. No feedback on how you perform, no context where the word can be found.
But Our Decks Do Glitter! 🥇
Having used Anki since 2007, we have tried and failed with most of the concepts people have come up with when it comes to Anki formats. We have come to the conclusion that everyone needs a specific set of words to start off—with context.
1,000 is the goal. A manageable goal that you can achieve and then move on from. 1,000 words inside 1,000 sentences. You learn the word with its context. You have a high-quality visual image to match your word and native audio to hear the pronunciation of that word. Need more? We deliver. How about 3 additional sentences with their translations using the same word for THREE times the context? Our Most Complete Mexican Spanish Deck gives you exactly that: 1,000 words with 4,000 example sentences, their translations, and the pronunciation of the word alone as well as the main sentence.
Did we just hear that it’s not enough? Alright, what if we include 2 synonyms for each word and a grammar note for the most complicated ones? This way, you are not only learning 1,000 words but effectively 3,000.
This is What Makes Our Decks Different
We always keep in mind that these decks are for students who do not have much time to make their own. People who want a reliable deck that is professionally made.
We have several decks you might be interested in. Take a look at them and let us know how useful you find them. We are sure you are going to love our format along with our content.
But if not, you can always download the Free Shared Decks—at your own risk. 😵
