The best flashcard ever: what does it look like?

Repetition using flashcards is much more effective than simply re-reading notes again and again:

• When you see one side of the card, your brain has to work to recall what's on the other side. This strengthens the neural connections needed to use the information on the card, not just recognize it with an "I understand everything but can say nothing” feeling.
• Because flashcards contain minimal pieces of information, you can review them anytime, anywhere, without worrying about getting interrupted and losing your place.
• You see the cards randomly, so the information won't be tied to a specific context, making it easier to recall in various situations.
• Spaced repetition helps you minimize the time spent reviewing the information you want to learn.

But all this does not apply to just any flashcard: there are some principles that make the learning by flashcards the most effective way of memorizing.

What do you imagine when you see the word "flashcards"?

Most often, it refers to a minimal unit of information, distributed on both sides of a card. But how is the information divided, and in what order should you review it? This question is often overlooked, but it greatly impacts the effectiveness of your learning process.

What does the ideal flashcard look like?

Like this:

Front side: a picture and text — question, definition, or usage example with blanks for the word. The picture can be the item itself or an association (your favourite memes work great, for instance). Back side: the answer, term, or word itself (depending on what you are learning).
Important: when studying a language, all text on the card should be in the target language. More on this later.

Better Memorization

To minimize study time, you'll need to spend time creating cards after each lesson, on weekends, or whenever you have free time. Searching for the right picture and copying examples from textbooks or dictionaries already helps you remember the word halfway. If the picture and example are tied to your personal experience (e.g., a photo of your cat instead of a random internet image), it’s an added bonus for long-term memory retention.

No Translations

If you want to speak a language fluently, without mentally translating, remember the word's meaning, not its translation. Pictures and context help build neural connections between the foreign word and its meaning as a visual image and context, rather than translating from your native language.

Sound

This option is not always needed but essential if you're starting a new language. You need to remember not only how the word is written but also how it's pronounced. Our app offers two options: automatic pronunciation (not available in all languages) and the ability to upload a file from your phone. We will explain where to find the pronunciations and how to upload files in another post, so stay tuned!

We didn't come up with this system ourselves — while researching "how to study," we reviewed many sources. The most significant influences were Gabriel Wyner’s book "Fluent Forever" and this video by English teacher Marina Gorskaya — thanks to them!