Are Flashcards an Effective Language Learning Tool?

There are many ways and methods to learn a foreign language. One of the most efficient ones are flashcards. Flashcards or memo cards are a simple way of learning a new language and mastering it.

How do they work? Well, on one side, you have a word or a phrase in a source language, and on the other in the target language. You memorize the words and then guess their meanings.

How to make flashcards for studying?

The best way for you to learn a language is to make flashcards on your own. For flashcards, you will need some, e.g., 3x5 cards and marker pens. On one side of the card, you should write a word or a phrase in a source language, and on the other side, in the target language. You can also use the whole sentences or some additional explanations, even draw pictures, not just words or phrases, why not?

The choice is all yours.

If you are a beginner, we suggest you use greetings or common phrases at first. Flashcards will help you memorize them quickly. Over time, expand your flashcards with phrases, sentences, synonyms, and focus on them.

Why use flashcards for learning languages?

There is a simple reason why. Over time, you should be able to use in real life the phrases/ synonyms/sentences that you learned from flashcards: words have no special meaning without a context. So, if you learn words over and over, it will become dull, it will not be learning with understanding, and it will be counterproductive because you will memorize words like a robot. With flashcards, you learn from context, which is the most effective way to learn.

Advantages of using flashcards

There are many benefits of learning a language with flashcards. Take a look at them in the several following points.

Effective way of learning

As we already explained, this way of learning words, phrases, sentences, or synonyms helps you learn a language in a whole new dimension and speed up learning a little bit. Flashcards can boost your vocabulary pretty quickly. They even make you think of the phrases you've memorized, various situations when you can use them, and even think of opposite situations. And what is that, then boosting your vocabulary and making your brain active?

Possibility to learn whatever you want

In learning a foreign language with flashcards, there are no boundaries. You can write and learn whatever you want.

As we proposed, you can write and learn words in the beginning. Later, you can add phrases, sentences, or synonyms, draw pictures, give additional explanations, and you can even mix with other languages you want to learn. The whole point is to try out every given combination or even make up your own.

Learning with flashcards is fun

This way of learning a language opens hundreds of possibilities.

For example, you can play a game with flashcards with other people. It is even more compelling for toddlers and kids because they get to learn in a fun but efficient way. They will be learning a language and not be aware of that. Just make sure it is always fun because you know that kids can get bored quickly.

Flashcards don't cost a thing

Even there are many different flashcards to buy, or apps to download, it is not necessary to use them. It is even better to make them on your own.

The best flashcards for you will be based on your experience; they will contain words, phrases, and sentences that describe who you are or what you're interested in.

An "active recall" with flashcards

When you look at one side of a flashcard, you think of an answer, which is located on the other side of it. This way, you are engaging an active recall- a mental faculty. You aim to remember the concept.

Flashcards can easily facilitate repetition, so they are good for active recalling, which is, again, one more benefit for you to speed up the learning process.

As with other learning methods, the key with flashcards is to keep experimenting and trying different techniques, so that learning a language doesn't become stale. You are free to stick to what works for you, expand your learning method, and keep learning and reaching your goals.

Native tutors from the Justlearn platform can help you to make your own flashcards, to expand the existed ones and even give you some additional ideas.

Final thoughts

Keep in mind that everybody is different. What works for you doesn't mean that it will work for someone else. Some things work better for some people. A combination that you will find useful for yourself may not work for someone else.

And what about you? Have you tried making your flashcards? How's that working out for you? Do you have some additional tips on using flashcards? Share your stories in the comments below.