Olly Richards
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The proven system to learn foreign language vocabulary and not forget it OLLY RICHARDS IWillTeachYouALanguage.com Copyright © Olly Richards 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Copyright © Olly Richards 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Contents About ................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................ 8 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 Key Success Principles for Learning Quickstart Guide: Vocabulary with Spaced Repetition .... 13 Setting Up Your Flashcards ................53 SECTION 1 SECTION 1 What is Spaced Repetition? ............................. 14 Introduction ........................................... 54 SECTION 2 SECTION 2 Getting Started with Spaced Repetition Flashcards ....... 18 Which Software is Best? ............................... 56 SECTION 3 SECTION 3 Integrating Flashcards into Your Language Learning ..... 22 Step-By-Step: Setting Up Your Flashcards .............. 60 SECTION 4 SECTION 4 Working with Vocabulary in Full Sentences.............. 26 Conclusion............................................ 70 SECTION 5 How to Study with Flashcards .......................... 32 Language Learning Foundations Course .................. 72 SECTION 6 Consistency – The Key to Success...................... 36 SECTION 7 Making Vocabulary Accessible in Conversations ........ 40 SECTION 8 Q&A – Studying with Flashcards ....................... 44 Contents About ................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................ 8 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 Key Success Principles for Learning Quickstart Guide: Vocabulary with Spaced Repetition .... 13 Setting Up Your Flashcards ................53 SECTION 1 SECTION 1 What is Spaced Repetition? ............................. 14 Introduction ........................................... 54 SECTION 2 SECTION 2 Getting Started with Spaced Repetition Flashcards ....... 18 Which Software is Best? ............................... 56 SECTION 3 SECTION 3 Integrating Flashcards into Your Language Learning ..... 22 Step-By-Step: Setting Up Your Flashcards .............. 60 SECTION 4 SECTION 4 Working with Vocabulary in Full Sentences.............. 26 Conclusion............................................ 70 SECTION 5 How to Study with Flashcards .......................... 32 Language Learning Foundations Course .................. 72 SECTION 6 Consistency – The Key to Success...................... 36 SECTION 7 Making Vocabulary Accessible in Conversations ........ 40 SECTION 8 Q&A – Studying with Flashcards ....................... 44 About Hi, I’m Olly Richards and I’m the creator of the I Will Teach You A Lan- guage blog. When I was 19, I went to live in Paris. There was one small problem, though. I didn’t speak French. Not one to back down from a challenge, I decided to learn it. Within six months, and after a lot of trial and error, and ups and downs, I was conversationally fluent. I had caught the language bug! I went back to London, and continued to learn new languages. Since then, I’ve become fluent in seven of them, including some of the world’s hardest languages, like Japanese, Cantonese and Arabic. One day, I decided to start writing about how I do it, and started a blog. These days, I continue to learn new languages and spend my time producing the highest-quality educational material out there to help others replicate my success. Anybody can With hundreds of students, and more than a smattering of success stories, I’ve discovered that anybody can become fluent in another become fluent in language with the right guidance. another language To find out more about me, why not visit the blog, or check out this with the right interview with me, filmed in Cairo, Egypt! guidance. Best wishes, Olly 6 MAKE WORDS STICK 7 OLLY RICHARDS About Hi, I’m Olly Richards and I’m the creator of the I Will Teach You A Lan- guage blog. When I was 19, I went to live in Paris. There was one small problem, though. I didn’t speak French. Not one to back down from a challenge, I decided to learn it. Within six months, and after a lot of trial and error, and ups and downs, I was conversationally fluent. I had caught the language bug! I went back to London, and continued to learn new languages. Since then, I’ve become fluent in seven of them, including some of the world’s hardest languages, like Japanese, Cantonese and Arabic. One day, I decided to start writing about how I do it, and started a blog. These days, I continue to learn new languages and spend my time producing the highest-quality educational material out there to help others replicate my success. Anybody can With hundreds of students, and more than a smattering of success stories, I’ve discovered that anybody can become fluent in another become fluent in language with the right guidance. another language To find out more about me, why not visit the blog, or check out this with the right interview with me, filmed in Cairo, Egypt! guidance. Best wishes, Olly 6 MAKE WORDS STICK 7 OLLY RICHARDS Of all the challenges facing you in a new language, learning enough vocabulary is probably the biggest of Introduction them all. It’s disarmingly simple, when you think about it. Whatever else you do, whatever else you learn, however else you study, Learning vocabulary often your ability to understand someone, or to make yourself under- is the most important stood, depends on one simple thing: Do you know enough words? element of making quick progress in a For me, there are two important implications of this. Firstly, learning new language new vocabulary must be your number one priority when taking on a new language. Secondly, you need an efficient system for learning that vocabulary. You often hear people talking about the importance of enjoying the learning process and having fun with the language, and this is abso - lutely true. However, it’s also true that a certain amount of heavy lifting In order to do is needed if you’re to get anywhere with the language. this you need an efficient system for learning Given that we’re all busy people, often with limited time for language learning in-amongst other commitments, any heavy lifting that we decide to do has to count! Flashcards with spaced repetition are This guide is all about how to do that heavy lifting. one such system and It’s about how to learn foreign language vocabulary are extremely effective for learning vocabulary quickly, and not forget it. If you’re looking for an easy-going, relaxing, pencil-and-paper method for learning vocabulary, look elsewhere. The flashcard system that I describe in this guide does not claim to be particularly fun. However, it does claim to be effective. 8 MAKE WORDS STICK 9 OLLY RICHARDS Of all the challenges facing you in a new language, learning enough vocabulary is probably the biggest of Introduction them all. It’s disarmingly simple, when you think about it. Whatever else you do, whatever else you learn, however else you study, Learning vocabulary often your ability to understand someone, or to make yourself under- is the most important stood, depends on one simple thing: Do you know enough words? element of making quick progress in a For me, there are two important implications of this. Firstly, learning new language new vocabulary must be your number one priority when taking on a new language. Secondly, you need an efficient system for learning that vocabulary. You often hear people talking about the importance of enjoying the learning process and having fun with the language, and this is abso - lutely true. However, it’s also true that a certain amount of heavy lifting In order to do is needed if you’re to get anywhere with the language. this you need an efficient system for learning Given that we’re all busy people, often with limited time for language learning in-amongst other commitments, any heavy lifting that we decide to do has to count! Flashcards with spaced repetition are This guide is all about how to do that heavy lifting. one such system and It’s about how to learn foreign language vocabulary are extremely effective for learning vocabulary quickly, and not forget it. If you’re looking for an easy-going, relaxing, pencil-and-paper method for learning vocabulary, look elsewhere. The flashcard system that I describe in this guide does not claim to be particularly fun. However, it does claim to be effective. 8 MAKE WORDS STICK 9 OLLY RICHARDS By the end of the guide you will know exactly how to use spaced Lastly, this guide has been kept repetition technology to memorise vocabulary, how to make sure you deliberately short. By being highly don’t forget it, and even better, how you can learn in such a way that you have all that vocabulary ready on the tip of your tongue when you I’m a huge proponent of the selective about the come to speak with someone. 80/20 rule, which states that vocabulary you 80% of your gains will come attempt to memorise It’s a bold promise. But after learning seven foreign languages myself, from only 20% of the things it’s the most effective and efficient way I know to grow a solid vo - you do. Learning vocabulary with you can drastically cabulary core quickly, and to start speaking fluently in months rather flashcards is no exception. reduce the amount of than years. study time required I could have easily included five It is nonetheless true that some times the amount information, every day. people do find flashcards bor- It’s the most such as more advanced learning ing and dislike using technology.