The need to review words and phrases

Here is the podcast

I recently made a post on the LingQCentral blog on the subject of our Flash Card system. I want to talk a little here about other ways of reviewing words and phrases.

As much as I enjoy listening and reading in a language, I find that a little deliberate review of words and phrases really speeds up my ability to retain vocabulary. It makes me more observant when I listen and read, so I am able to remember words and phrases better when I come across them again. That is why we have so many ways to review saved words and phrases in LingQ. Flash Cards are one great way. Looking at special lists is another. In both cases I can see the word, a phrase, and the hint that I have created for this word.

I find that in Russian, where I have saved over 4,000 words, it is very helpful to go through my words in different ways. Sometimes I look at lists of the words, displaying 100 at a time, and select certain troublesome ones for review in a separate list or in Flash Cards. I can sort all my words by Importance, or Date Created, or Alphabetically and in other ways. Then I select the ones on these lists that I want to work on and create a separate list or just Flash Card them. I can also look at words by the different Tag categories that I have created.

Reviewing words by roots or components is also helpful. In learning a language, it always seems to me, at first and even for a long time, that many words are similar. In fact, some words are similar and share roots or components. Other words just seem similar to me, but in fact are not connected. They only seem similar because I am not familiar enough with the new language.  That is why I like to search my list of over 4,000 Russian words by components, using the search function in the Vocabulary section of LingQ. This will bring up words that share these components. This brings up words that are connected in some way, and I can try to understand what they have in common. This also brings up words that are not connected in meaning, but somehow are confused in my mind. I am able to review them and improve my grasp of them, either by reviewing lists or using Flash Cards.

I know this seems like work, and may seem like less fun than just listening and reading. However, once you get started it becomes fun.  It is certainly worth the effort.

Comments

[Vitaly.]

They say that tandem reading is a good way to practice intonation. But for this you need a recording of voice with "standard" colloquial intonation. If the person reads the text than it sounds stilted and unnatural.

Steve, what about if first to talk what you think about the subject and then transcribe first several paragraphs or so?

[Steve Kaufmann]

Vitaly,

I will try to do more of that in the future. You should also visit EnglishLingQ. http://www.englishlingq.com/. There you will find a lot of natural conversation.

[Roni]

Steve, I wonder if you can comment on this.

Basically, as I study languages further and further, I find that remembering words, phrases and whatever is the biggest problem I (and everyone) have in learning a language. I have been trying many techniques, from mnemonics, linking artificially various ideas and sounds, to flashcards and the such like. I have been researching on the internet and found a method called the 'Goldlist' Method, which appears to be just an organised vocabulary book, but perhaps quite effective. The website that explains it is: http://usenetposts.com/goldlist.htm

What do you think? I am always trying to find a way of remembering vocabulary so that I don't get tired of flashcards etc. Flashcards are a good test, but when it comes to using them to actually learn, I find that once I finish a session, it is only relief. Relief of having finished. I'm constantly stuck with words that I don't know and have to find what they are, freaking out as I do searching desperately in my mind for them. Finding them is only relief not satisfaction as I remember the word on the flashcard, not being able to remember the word annoys or even angers me.

Maybe you might say that I shouldn't study in this way, how I feel and whatnot, I should be relaxed etc., but I find this is the nature of flashcards. Of course reading and listening should never be stopped, but this part of language learning is tricky.

I know how you like to listen to a recording 10, 20, I think you've even said 30 times, if you like the sound of the speaker, the story etc., but this is difficult for an adult. The mind of a child likes to listen to, see, do things again and again for a reason, and I think it's mostly because it's effective for them to learn.

Although I have not had the fortune to use your system on LingQ, I feel its greatest strength is the fact that one can hear and read a wide variety of texts on many different subjects of interest. That being said, it is vital to follow these reading and listenings up. Since it would be foolish to think that a computer is the only resource that we need for language study, aside from your flashcards, what do you advise students to combine with studies in your system that the Linguist/LingQ does not have?

[Musa Yılmaz]

I would like learn english wiht correct accent. I,m a IT manager in a bank.