Big problem with flashcards' errors

Question

Thank you to everyone who has created flashcards.

Sometimes there are mistakes in them, though. Partly I think this is because the site will give you a translation of your word, and sometimes the translator is wrong.

I don't know the best way to clean up flashcards that are like this, except to send a PM to the creator of the flashcard set and ask them to make the correction. As far as I know, they are the only one who can fix a mistake (maybe moderators can, too, but I don't know.)

But, here is my problem, today...

I just created a new flashcard set on "acabar phrases." I took the phrases right out of the dictionary description of "acabar." I did this because I have some type of mental block on this word, it never seems when I see it in use that I am confident of what it means. So, I figured I would just memorize some of the phrases from the dictionary so I can get comfortable in how it should be used. Good use of the flashcards, right?

Okay, so the problem is that when I am creating a flashcard set, the nifty special Spanish letter menu with á,é,í,ó,ú,ñ,¿,¡ does not appear. I only know how to generate the ñ from my keyboard. We would have many fewer mistakes being generated in these flashcard sets if the nifty special Spanish letter menu appeared on the "create a flashcard set" page.

Does anyone else have any ideas on how to create perfect flashcard sets and how to clean up ones that that have errors? Maybe people with a certain number of points could gain access to clean up other people's sets and give it a seal of approval. Also, if the programmer could give us the special letter menu on this page, it would be great. Who has connections with the site programmer?

Also, just in case anyone else has a problem with the use of acabar, here is my new set. If you see any errors, let me know. I really made an effort to make it perfect.

Answer 1

The user of the flashcard set has a choice when they create it whether they want it to be kept personal or shared with the site. Because of that, I feel that any sets that are published for use by all should have an edit feature available. Then I'd let anyone with more than 10 or 20K in rep points the ability to clean them up.

I have PM'd people who have made some really sorry lists because if they learn what they write they would surely fail whatever vocabulary test they are trying to study for. I'm always kind when I write them, but I will admit to not writing to EVERY new poster who puts up lists rife with errors. Interestingly, I have checked back and I have yet to have any beginner go back and correct their cards.

Perhaps we shouldn't allow the "share" function for those with less than 5K rep points, but that's just a thought. Or perhaps we can give folks the right to "approve" a set and thus have it go into wide general circulation and let the others "fall off" the site after a couple of weeks if the creator of the set has less than 5K.

There's lots of ways to deal with it, but for now it's just best to know that unless you know who created the sets (Marianne's and Sanlees sets are excellent and will keep you busy for a while) that you can't take them as gospel. Another good way to find sets is to go to the created or fave sets of the folks you trust and do them. Lots of gold in those mines!!

All good ideas. - JoyceM, Jan 3, 2011

Answer 2

Joyce,

Honestly after all this time I don't understand why you don't take care of the keyboard issue (by adding the US International Keyboard from your computer's control panel.) which makes it easy to type all the Spanish letters. And then you're done with it.

But here is an alternate resource for you: http://spanish.typeit.org/

Type, cut, and paste it into the SpanishDict flashcards.

After all of this time, I didn't know how to fix the keyboard problem. Thanks. - JoyceM, Jan 3, 2011

Answer 3

Does anyone else have any ideas on how to create perfect flashcard sets and how to clean up ones that that have errors? Maybe people with a certain number of points could gain access to clean up other people's sets and give it a seal of approval.

When this site started I insisted on getting edit function for the admins, but it was not granted, so only Paralee or Christopher can edit flashcards .

I must admit that was extremely frustrating, as I together with the invaluable help of some members had been cleaning up all flashcard sets before....

Please have a look at this thread.

Big hug to "vocabulary list"correctors: samdie, Guillermo, Ian Francis Hill, Quentin and UFGatorCPA

Answer 4

What if we could vote for the flashcard sets that were good, earning the creators points?

I like your idea, Joyce. I am a relative beginner here. I would like to avoid "learning" from incorrect flashcard sets. - JBlanco, Jan 6, 2011

Answer 5

Joyce, I also use a Mac and could not figure out how to use the appropriate accent marks, until last night. Wonderful Megan posted this link and my problem was instantly solved.

[For PCs and Macs] (http://www.studyspanish.com/accents/typing.htm#winXP)

Thanks. Sanlee got me going in the right direction. - JoyceM, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 6

People (beginners) do go back to correct their flashcards. There have been mistakes in mine which I have realised at a later date (probably still are) but I know that other people have tested themselves on them, which bothers me a bit. However, it does state clearly on the site that anything user-related should not necessarily be taken as gospel.

Maybe the way forward is to only have user sets coming up under the tab for user sets, not in the difficulty tab etc.

While we're on the subject of flashcards, it would be really great if there was some way to quickly get to 'easy' cards when you click on difficulty.

Answer 7

I have had one person correct a flashcard said after I sent them a PM. (She sent me a PM to thank me.) I bet others have as well without sending the PM, but you are right there are many errors. However, there are many good sets. When you find a good set, click on that person's sets and you can usually find some other sets that are well done.

I go places that are more reliable, and I don't have to wonder, and I don't have to check every word. I wouldn't hire myself to teach Spanish; I would want someone better than that! - Sabor, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 8

I'm new and my Spanish is not so great, but even I have noticed many errors in the flashcards. I won't use the flashcards because of the errors.

Answer 9

Interestingly, I have checked back and I have yet to have any beginner go back and correct their cards.

Indeed

Please let me know by the way if you see any rude set or violent...or racist, anything against the rules of this site, I do have the possibility to delete the sets

Answer 10

It is difficult to know what to say about some of the flashcard sets being created. On one hand, I have looked at them as the property of the person who made them, and so felt that they had the right to put whatever they wanted on them and I could choose whether to do their set or not.

On the other hand I have seen some errors that really make you want to reach out and help the person who made them, as they clearly are about to learn something wrong. I did once PM one person who had a very nice 90 word "in the restaurant" type of set, except that after vino they had "blanco" and "rojo" (and no other colors) and that for lime they had "cal". I questioned afterwards whether I really should have done that or not, as it was someone's personal list- so I have not done that since. I saw one the other day labeled "money" with this set:

dollar dólar

nickel níquel

quarter trimestre

penny centavo

dime tell me

I would not be sure how to even approach helping that user.

I am not sure how many casual users even check for PM's, and with the number of sets being generated daily, I think it would be difficult to keep up even if you wanted to edit them. Under the user sets tab, I am not sure how to tell if a set is public or private (I assume when you use the search function only the public ones show). It is very difficult to know how to react to the errors.

I say, reach out. - JoyceM, Jan 3, 2011

Answer 11

This is a good question, to which I don't have an answer. Being a proficient Spanish speaker doesn't make you immune to making typos on your flaschcards, either. I've done a couple of sets lately made by highly regarded members that have simple typos in them. I know they're typos because I knew the words. Beginners might not. I'm sure my sets have their share of errors, as well.

if that is me , please let me know - 00494d19, Jan 3, 2011

Me, too. - sanlee, Jan 3, 2011

Answer 12

I know it's a pain, but before I figured out my keyboard, I used to cut and paste all the words. If you have word pad, you could put the correct words on it from the dictionary and then copy and paste them on to the Spanish side (being careful not to put any extra space at the beginning to the end of the word). Then, you just put the English definition in on the English side. This is how I did all my flashcards before I got the keyboard. What kind of a computer do you have, Joyce? A PC or a MAC?

I have a MaC. - JoyceM, Jan 3, 2011

Answer 13

After Heidi's comment, I say we should support her request to have the administrators be able to have access to edit the flashcards.

Otherwise, it really erodes the credibility of the site. Everything else is of high quality on the site, why not this?

If you agree that Heidi and the administrators should have this ability, leave a message stating so and show your support.

Thanks joyce, but it is too late for that, now the flashcards are again so wrong, it would be impossible to clean them up. I tried at the beginning, but now it is too late, and in any case the web owner did not think it was a good idea - 00494d19, Jan 3, 2011