Post by moon125 on Nov 4, 2024 9:22:22 GMT
Spaced Repetition System: how to use it to teach and learn a language?
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is sometimes to memorize vocabulary in the long term when studying a foreign language?
Why does this happen? Is there a study review method that allows you to retain information definitively, in the long term? The answer is yes!
In this article, you will understand how the phenomenon of forgetting occurs, what factors favor it and how to avoid it through the spaced repetition technique.
How does our brain forget things?
In most cases, it is natural for our brains to forget information over time.
Ebbinghaus , a 19th-century German philosopher, explains shopify website design that the human brain can lose about 50% of the information it has memorized after just a few hours of learning. And even after this period, memory loss continues over time, but at a slower rate, as can be seen below in what he calls the forgetting curve .
Spaced Repetition System (SRE)
Spaced Repetition System (SRE): what is the objective?
Since ancient times, it has been known that repetition is the key to good memory – it allows us to retain new information without any loss over time.
But just repeating it isn’t enough – this isn’t a practice that can be done in any way and with any frequency.
In an attempt to understand how repetition can be more efficient in learning a language, linguist Paul Pimsleur conducted research into the ideal intervals for reviewing content already learned frequently enough to avoid forgetting it, without making the practice monotonous or a waste of time.
This is a technique that can be applied to any area of knowledge, but it is especially useful in language learning, as it is a skill that requires memorizing vocabulary.
« Read also: Expand your Vocabulary with Online English Texts | Readlang »
Reviewing through spaced repetition only really works after a consistent period of time. However, it is worth the effort! Once you have implemented this technique for long enough, the chances of you not remembering the vocabulary you have studied in a few months or years are slim to none.
How to practice the Spaced Repetition System manually?
The best way to use spaced repetition is to create a flashcard system. This technique can be done manually or through an app.
SRE Spaced Repetition System
To create a manual spaced repetition system, write the information you want to memorize on separate cards. These can be words or grammar rules, depending on your particular study needs.
After the first review, which can be done a few hours after the day you saw the concepts, you will put them in section 2, which you will return to every other day. If you manage to remember the words every time during the week, you will transfer the memorized cards to section 3. This section will be revisited every three days. After the period is over, you can move the cards to section 4, which will be seen every 4 days, and so on. If you cannot remember a word, keep it in section 1, which you will review every day until you make progress.
To do this, it is important to create a small schedule to leave with the cards, where you will mark the days that you review each section.
How to practice the Spaced Repetition System online?
Anki is a very popular study support software that uses the spaced repetition system .
Also available as an app, you can use Anki to create flashcards where you can also add text, images, sounds and files, which enriches your review experience.
The software even notifies you of what you need to review and when, based on its own spacing system. All you need to do is create an account and log in once a day to keep track of your pending reviews.
Useful, isn't it? If you liked this article, check out another interesting study method: How to make an English mind map as a study method?
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is sometimes to memorize vocabulary in the long term when studying a foreign language?
Why does this happen? Is there a study review method that allows you to retain information definitively, in the long term? The answer is yes!
In this article, you will understand how the phenomenon of forgetting occurs, what factors favor it and how to avoid it through the spaced repetition technique.
How does our brain forget things?
In most cases, it is natural for our brains to forget information over time.
Ebbinghaus , a 19th-century German philosopher, explains shopify website design that the human brain can lose about 50% of the information it has memorized after just a few hours of learning. And even after this period, memory loss continues over time, but at a slower rate, as can be seen below in what he calls the forgetting curve .
Spaced Repetition System (SRE)
Spaced Repetition System (SRE): what is the objective?
Since ancient times, it has been known that repetition is the key to good memory – it allows us to retain new information without any loss over time.
But just repeating it isn’t enough – this isn’t a practice that can be done in any way and with any frequency.
In an attempt to understand how repetition can be more efficient in learning a language, linguist Paul Pimsleur conducted research into the ideal intervals for reviewing content already learned frequently enough to avoid forgetting it, without making the practice monotonous or a waste of time.
This is a technique that can be applied to any area of knowledge, but it is especially useful in language learning, as it is a skill that requires memorizing vocabulary.
« Read also: Expand your Vocabulary with Online English Texts | Readlang »
Reviewing through spaced repetition only really works after a consistent period of time. However, it is worth the effort! Once you have implemented this technique for long enough, the chances of you not remembering the vocabulary you have studied in a few months or years are slim to none.
How to practice the Spaced Repetition System manually?
The best way to use spaced repetition is to create a flashcard system. This technique can be done manually or through an app.
SRE Spaced Repetition System
To create a manual spaced repetition system, write the information you want to memorize on separate cards. These can be words or grammar rules, depending on your particular study needs.
After the first review, which can be done a few hours after the day you saw the concepts, you will put them in section 2, which you will return to every other day. If you manage to remember the words every time during the week, you will transfer the memorized cards to section 3. This section will be revisited every three days. After the period is over, you can move the cards to section 4, which will be seen every 4 days, and so on. If you cannot remember a word, keep it in section 1, which you will review every day until you make progress.
To do this, it is important to create a small schedule to leave with the cards, where you will mark the days that you review each section.
How to practice the Spaced Repetition System online?
Anki is a very popular study support software that uses the spaced repetition system .
Also available as an app, you can use Anki to create flashcards where you can also add text, images, sounds and files, which enriches your review experience.
The software even notifies you of what you need to review and when, based on its own spacing system. All you need to do is create an account and log in once a day to keep track of your pending reviews.
Useful, isn't it? If you liked this article, check out another interesting study method: How to make an English mind map as a study method?