Re:Spaced repetition can allow for infinite recall
by borroka on Monday August 08, 2022 @09:04PM
(#32393032)
I agree with the comment, but my point was about understanding and memorizing words, not becoming fluent in a language.
Listening, speaking, and memorizing words and grammar rules are all necessary to become passable or fluent in a foreign language. I always jot down words and strive to memorize the phrases or idioms of native speakers. Then, there are ups and downs, one day I sound like Obama, another day I sound like someone who started learning the language two weeks ago. It's all part of the business.
Re:Spaced repetition can allow for infinite recall
by bayesian_horse on Tuesday August 09, 2022 @02:04AM
(#32394697)
Try Duolingo. They do the rote memorization part, but they also provide a lot of sentences. Their Japanese course reportedly is also quite advanced.
I am learning Mandarin now and my approach is completely different. Speaking and listening are the most important, I'm letting muscle memory of mouth (and sometimes gesturing tones with my hand) be my memorization technique. Six months-ish in and I can already express myself in rudimentary ways, it's way better than my Japanese was in that time frame. I have some Mandarin Anki decks that I do in the cracks of my day but I never finish my daily cards anymore and I don't spend a lot of time on it. I'll schedule an italki lesson or listen some speak-and-repeat courses instead.
Memorizing the notes in a song isn't learning to play music, memorizing a bunch of vocabulary isn't learning a foreign language.