Information about this spaced-repetition app
Introduction
This spaced-repetition app is designed to help you learn vocabulary. If you know nothing about spaced-repetition, you are recommended to first read the general information about spaced-repetition learning.
The app starts with five word groups that you can work with or add to. Each word group has many word sets as explained below.
Word sets
A word set contains:
- the word that you want to learn
- a definition or translation of the word
- an example sentence containing the word
- extra information about the word (e.g. grammatical information)
A collection of word sets on a particular topic is called a word group. Here you can read detailed advice on writing and adding word sets to the word group.
App modes
The app has various modes for viewing, updating and quizzing yourself on the word sets in the various word groups. These modes are distributed across the five panels of the app:
- Home: Select the word group that you want to work with.
- Quiz: Quiz yourself on the word sets in the chosen word group. [More below.]
- Browse: View the complete information about each word set, either one at a time or in a list.
- Update: Add new word sets or change the content of existing word sets.
- Manage: Create new word groups or perform various tasks on existing word groups
Quizzing options
The core aspect of a spaced-repetition vocabulary app is the quiz functionality. Quizzing the words at various intervals moves them word from short-term to long-term memory.
This app has two quizzing options called: Implicit and Explicit.
1. Implicit is my term for a review or quiz mode that corresponds to that used in typical spaced-repetition apps such as Anki. In this typical mode the learner is presented with a word and asks herself the question:
- Do I know this word?
Depending on the answer to this question (which typically In Anki the range is expressed in categories such as Failed, Again, Easy, Good and Hard. ranges from: Yes, very well! to No, not at all!), the app sets the interval after which the word is next presented for review.
→ The important point here is that there is no test to determine if the learner does in fact know the word very well.
The Implicit mode in my spaced-repetition app follows the same self-report principle with no test.
One difference between the implicit mode and the Anki mode is that the learner herself can (in fact must) set the interval in each case - instead of letting the algorithm do it for her. This allows for greater flexibility.
It could be, for example, that she reviews a word that she doesn't know, but doesn't consider very important. An automatic algorithm such as in Anki will present the word again at a short interval. But in my app she can set the interval to be greater because she wants to focus on repeating the important unknown or partly known words first.
Note: If a due date is skipped, then the word set will be presented the next time the learner reviews the word set in implicit mode.
2. Explicit is my term for the second review mode. To understand this mode it is useful to conceive the word sets as a stack of physical flashcards. The flashcard on top of the stack is one one currently being reviewed.
The explicit nature of this mode lies in the fact that the learner has to prove that she knows the word by doing a quiz it. She cannot simply say: I know this word!.
Dependent on whether the quiz question is answered correctly or not, the card is moved to a different location in the stack:
- A correct answer in a quiz moves the word set to the end of the stack.
- An incorrect answer (or no answer because the word is unknown) moves the word set to position 10 in the stack. This means that words that are got wrong are quizzed again within a short time period. This reinforces the learning process.
- Words that are correctly answered five times in a row are considered "Learned/Done" and are removed from the quiz stack.
General advice on learning by spaced-repetition
The spaced-repetition methodology has been found to be effective and efficient. But it is also possible for learners to waste a lot of time and experience stress when using the methodology. Therefore I have included below some suggestions on how to make the most of this app.
- The learning process starts with the production of good word sets. For example, if you take time to write the optional example sentence, you will already have taken the first step to learning the word. If the new words you want to learn are from the books or news media you read, then you can use the sentences in those sources.
- Learning words is an important aspect of learning a language. But the ultimate goal is to develop a broad competence in that language. Try to consciously recognise the words you are learning in what you hear or read, and to use them in what you say or write.
- Try out both the Implicit and Explicit quizzing modes to see which is more enjoyable and seems to work better for you.
- In the Explicit quiz mode vary the way you are tested on the word. There are potentially four different ways to do so.
- Limit your time using the app. Twenty minutes per session is probably enough. You will learn more efficiently if your time on the app does not come to feel like a chore.
- Learning vocabulary via an internet app is just one way to learn words. In many respects it is better to read lots of good books or interesting informational texts than spending hours on lists of words.
- You may wish to read more extensive advice on how to learn vocabulary elsewhere on this site.
Note: The web technology used in this app, namely indexedDB, is supported in the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox and Edge. There have been problems with the technology in Safari, so you are recommended to use one of the other three browsers listed above.
The app was designed for use on a desktop computer or laptop in the recommended browsers. It will work on smart phones or other internet devices, but the user experience may be less pleasant.