(Inspired by Tom Catos posting about retention rate)
I have for more than 10 years use Spaced Repetition Learning Software
(SRLS).
For the past 12 months I have studied German. I have
- followed two good courses at Goethe Institut ("B1" and "B2")
- had some private tutoring
- used Mnemosyne extensively: Entered ~ 9 000 learning items (German), ~ 7
000 of them active right now.
- ~ 130 items per day (includes Italian and history)
- used Mnemomsyne tags actively in order to prioritise
- I intend to take an oral exam (German) in 2-3 weeks and I am fairly
confident I will pass
- my German will keep improving the coming years
I have previously learned Italian, more or less following the same process
(using Supermemo). It took a lot longer to learn Italian (I had no
background knowledge, Italian is further from my mother tongue, Norwegian,
there is less material available). I have now also "learned more about
learning a language". Over the years I have adjusted my approach
considerably. Below are my main points (learning is individual, we all need
to find out "what works for me"):
*1) Using SRLS, my aim is a retention rate no lower than 95%.***
Supermemo uses the term "*leeches*" for the stubborn learning items that
one systematically tends not to remember. Now I periodically keep an eye on
my "leeches": Are they badly formulated? Do I have the necessary
"surrounding" and "supporting" knowledge? Some I simply give a
"Priority-2"-tag and put on hold until I am more ready. Others I
re-formulate (would be nice if Mnemosyne allowed "copy-items" and/ or
"Reset learning"). I may also supplement with a different approach (use
picture/ sound). Some I write down (yes, good old handwriting) and look
through every now and then. I find that changing the learning-context can
do wonders...
*2) For me, language is primarily spoken***
I listen to native-speakers. I search for learning situations (now I have
German friends, of course). I am not shy to make mistakes. Mnemosyne with
sound is for me powerful and useful. *Interesting how often I (in a
real-life situation) cannot find a phrase that I really know well when
going through my daily Mnemosyne-lesson..*.
*3) Some textbooks are really good***
For German I used an OCR scanner to grab excellent text-book material into
PC... and some of it all the way into Menmosyne learning items. I tried to
work ahead of classes and I was well prepared. And of course I still repeat
stuff we "learned" in August. *A pity so few text-books are digital. *
I also find good material online (one has to be critical of quality though).
*4) "It is easier to learn a language when you already now it"***
Now I am really focused on learning basics and the easy stuff first. That
foundation then provides the platform to progress from. Therefore: I reduce
my leeches. I am not yet ready for them.
I cram sentences like: "I am sorry, could you please repeat that/ could you
please speak very slowly/ do you think you could express it differently"
etc. And I use them.
*5) Language is context***
I have few single-word items in my database, put perhaps *10 small
sentences *for *each important term. *I tend to build knowledge clusters
(areas of interest, developing from basic, primitive language to more
mature / advanced within this cluster.
*6) Passive learning comes before active, and that is ok***
As children we were bombarded with language that we did not quite
understood, only slowly were we able to understand it, *then *use it.
Typically with Mnemosyne I try to find interesting texts and
a) I start by making "Cloze" cards. If leechy: I provide hints. Sometimes I
start with easy-clozes in a difficult text and then add harder clozes to
same text (card) as time progresses
b) Then I make more traditional "front-to-back" items (usually short
sentences), nearly always first from foreign language to familiar
language. Tab separated txt is very efficient for pre-editing and input to
Mnemosyne
c) After a while Mnemosyne can inform me ("Easiness" and "Lapses") which of
the front-to-back items are ready to enter my "active" knowledge, and stay
there.... Browse, identify, right-click and convert card-type to
"front-to-back and back-to-front".
*7) Grammar is language in use, not just rules to remember***
I learn both. Cloze is really useful in "filling in" the correct
grammatical conjugation in a context.
*8) Perhaps the main benefit for me of using Mnemosyne (and previously)
Supermemo:***
It has given me (a fairly untidy person) a much more *systematic approach*to
learning.
Now I spend 10-20 minutes EVERY day (sometimes a lot more when inputting
stuff, tidying up etc)
I feel that I spend time on useful and relevant learning material (not
stuff that is too easy or to difficult)
Whatever interesting, useful pieces of knowledge I learn: It is really nice
to know that it is very unlikely that I will come in the position so
familiar to many of my fellow language course participants over the years:
"I took this course x, years ago, but I have forgotten most of it"
Potential problem: Addiction.* I wonder if I can learn in any other way*.
*Thanks to Peter and all the rest of you for providing this excellent
learning tool.
*
I would like to hear other stories and experiences.
/ Henrik in Oslo
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