i need help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is it easier to learn vocabulary using flash cards or reading through
7 Answers
Reading and flash cards are two different ways of learning vocabulary, and you can actually do both. There's no reason to exclude one or the other. What you have to consider is how much time you have and which method you prefer, and the level of success you have with each method.
I don't know where you're from, but here in US when schools want to increase children's vocabulary, they start very aggressive reading campaigns. I know that Mexico did the same at one point, and I'll bet every country with with a decent education system does the same.
Read, read and read some more. This is hands down the best way to pick up vocabulary.
Now comes the part most people will hate me for saying...
As for flash cards, personally I think they're a waste of time, but that's just me. I've used flash cards before and I really couldn't remember the words more than a few days beyond that study session, if that.
If you do plan to use flash cards, you need to put the words into context and into use. Don't just read the cards, write sentences using the words, practice using the words with other people. Otherwise it's just rote memorization which is useless when it's time to have a conversation.
The trick to learning vocabulary and how to speak Spanish is not a trick at all, you have to use the language, reading, writing and speaking. Actively doing those three things is what makes you learn more and remember things forever.
I think it depends on your preference- if you like doing flash cards but hate reading through, you might have better luck with flash cards since you're likely to spend more time doing something you enjoy. I would also consider what exactly you need to learn- flash cards may save you some time if you have a short list of new words you need to learn, rather than plowing through otherwise familiar text.
That's a great question without a simple answer.
In my experience with my students the best thing is using everything: flashcards, reading, listening and above all, writing. The key thing is REPETITION.
There are different ways to tore a word in your brain: semantic, orthographic, phonetic, syntactical, motor. So you should take advantage of different ways. What the word means, how it sounds, how it's written and how you say the word. Again REPETITION is the crucial thing.
Some people are good with visual memmory and other with auditory memmory. It depends on you.
I would say neither. There are some other approaches to learning vocabulary words, or any aspect or skill of a foreign language. One would be learning about and using "mnemonics", which is the science of memory techniques. I would suggest you google this term instead of buying a book about it, but the time you invest in learning about mnemonics will be worth it. Let's say you had a vocabulary word like "burbuja de baño", which is the Spanish term for "bubble bath". I would use mnemonics to memorize it. Here is a little story that incorporates mnemonics to teach you this. <<< One day my best friend said that I had been so nice to her lately, that she made a nice bubble bath for me. She told me to go jump in. The bath looked great - plenty of nice smelling bubbles. But when I jumped in the tub, the water was ice cold! Then my friend jumped out and said "Boo! Ha ha, the joke is on you". I am going "brrrrrr" because the water is freezing. >>> This is all you need to memorize burbuja de baño.
If you are a fast learner, then you can go ahead and just read off vocabulary words on a list. They might stick that way. However, it is more effective if you make the flashcards. The only downside is that flashcards will be more time-consuming. Really, it all depends on what kind of learner you are.
It depends on you. I like to write out each word I learn on a notepad. I find that writing it out makes it easier to learn, understand, spell and speak. If you do not understand the vocab than you will not be able to read through sentences.
By writing the vocab using flash cards then checkink what you wrote after completing the flash card set.
It is not easier but more effective.
