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 about 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 It's just ironic they ended up choosing the most outdated way to learn a language: the “Grammar-Translation Method” (and they left the grammar out, to make things worse).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 and translate random isolated sentences without any context, a number of which don't even make any sense.
Most students have used or never used Anki, but have for sure used Duolingo. A few have used Memrise and just a couple have used Quizzlet. Yet when asking if they have used Anki, most replies are "I have but long time ago" or "I have but I never understood it"
One main issue of Anki is its lack of color. It is a plain and simple window that looks as friendly as Jack the Ripper. But under that plain and simple window lays a complex program with the power to make you learn vocabulary faster than you ever thought. You are right, it might be boring just to use Anki without any customization but believe me when I say it "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 not only will improve the retention of words, but also will decrease the time you spend reviewing words. Traditionally, classes or courses give you list of word to memorize before the next class and students try their best to memorize those words just to find out the next day they had 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. Anki enters here.
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 many learners around the world. Users can create their own flashcard decks or download pre-made decks shared by others... but here is where one of the main issues with Anki lays.
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 5000 / 7000 or even 21000 cards in them. Go ahead, try them. If they work for you, then it is perfect. But keep in mind that these decks were made by a person 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 not have at all.
Plus 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 words. No feedback on how you performe or context where the word can be found.
But Our Decks Do Glitter! 🥇
Having used Anki since 2007 we have tried and failed most concepts people have come up with when it comes to Anki formats. We have come to the conclution that everyone needs a specific set of words to start off. context.
1000 is the goal. A managable goal that you can achieve and then move on. 1000 words inside 1000 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 prononciation of such word. You need more? We deliver. What about 3 more sentences with their translations using the same word for THREE times the context? Our Most Complete Mexican Spanish Deck is that, 1000 words with 4000 example sentences with their matching translations and the pronunciation of the word alone and the main sentence too.
Did we just hear that it is not enough? Alright, what about we include 2 synonims for each word and a grammar note for the most complicated words. This way you are not only learning 1000 words but 3000.
This is What Makes Our Decks Different
We always keep in mind that these deck are for students who do not have that much time to make their own decks. People that want a reliable deck that is professionally made.
We have several decks you might be interested on, take a look at them and let us know how useful you find them. We are sure you are goind to love our format along with our content.
But if not, you can always download the Free Shared Decks at your own risk. 😵
