[RootReducer]

I've been using Anki for about 3 years to learn Korean and it's been tremendously successful. In that time I've learned around 3000 new words (both English -> Korean and Korean -> English with reversed cards) and a ton of grammar (using Cloze cards). I couldn't imagine trying to memorize this amount of information any other way now.

[MeinBlutIstBlau]

How do you do it? I've been torn on learning sentences or just words as both are difficult in their own right. One helps with speaking, another expands your vocab. It almost feels like to me they're both necessary to stay good at this.

[RootReducer]

Both! I make a card with English on the front and Korean on the back, and I include a sample sentence in a custom field with the target word highlighted. I always read the sentence out loud after I answer the card.

I also make Cloze cards specifically for grammar where I'll cloze out the conjugated verb and put an English hint, like: 7시니까 댄 씨는 벌써 {{c1::퇴근했을 거예요::I think he left work}}.

[MeinBlutIstBlau]

I will have to make an effort to give those a go. I'm always interested in finding new ways to make self study more worthwhile instead of just a memory game. Thanks!

[mynameisash]

I read Gabriel Wyner's book, _Fluent Forever_, which was pretty decent for giving ideas on how to effectively use SRS for language learning. That would probably be a good place to start.

I disagree with his approach (which I haven't followed since original discussions) to then try to monetize this by basically creating a closed-source, locked-down Anki replacement. As I recall, he wanted to do what he said in his book wouldn't be effective -- to sell his cards to others.

[sammorrowdrums]

The "sell cards to others thing" isn't correct. The locked down Anki (for highly purpose specific and optimised interface for SRS language learning is what his app is).

I've tried his new app. Built in image search, pronunciation trainers, many included sentences with audio of varying difficulty. Now you can finally add custom words... It's at least gradually honing his vision into an app.

They are also going to have community supported languages, rather than simply not have more rare languages.

Granted, it's a premium app. Currently not got a freemium offering, and certainly not open source, so will put many off.

But at the same time, I know so many people who couldn't work with Anki, but could easily work with the app, so it does at least offer the system to a much broader audience.

[nullsense]

I managed to average that volume of new vocab in 3 months with Anki when I learned Japanese a decade ago.

It was a brutal, breakneck pace but the result was nothing short of phenomenal.