[tianshuo]

Thanks Xiaojun for FSRS, I've talked multiple times with him about FSRS and Anki. In traditional spaced repetition systems like Anki+FSRS, learners often review knowledge always in the same context, which can lead to an understanding of knowledge as isolated units rather than part of a larger network. For example, learning words isolated does not fully prepare learners to use the language in real-life situations, where context, collocation, and usage play a significant role. Instead of isolated repetition, a better way to learn languages is to expose learners to words in different contexts and combinations, helping them to understand how words naturally form in chunks and sentences. This varied exposure can help learners build a deep network of neural connections, enhancing their ability to understand, recall, and use language effectively. So for learning languages, instead of Anki cards, we're building something that shows real-life short videos where each of our videos is a mini scenario, showcasing language use in real-life situations. This means students aren't just memorizing words, but seeing how they're used in natural contexts, complete with visual cues and body language. This approach allows students to understand the practical application of words and phrases, making the learning process more engaging and effective. Since the main reason that students fail to learn foreign languages is they don't keep on studying. Another thing that Anki lacks is, real-life scenario-based quizzes instead of "do I recall this?", students need to apply what they've learned in a fun, low-pressure environment.

So, SRS algo is just part of the solution, and definitely not a silver bullet. There are a lot of things about memory, such as how emotions affect encoding - you don't need SRS to remember your first kiss or graduation day. People learn their mother tongue to fluency w/o using any kind of SRS, while most people fail to learn a foreign language to fluency even if they use SRS.

[jamager]

This is a valuable argument (learn in context, vary the context), but the mention of "people learn their MT without Anki / grammar / study" always bugs me.

First and Second Language Acquisition is just apples to bacon. The baby and adult brains are different, and their needs, capabilities, and context are vastly different.

[tianshuo]

Of course, babies and adults are different but more important is how language is learned or acquired. Most adults do not have mentally stimulating content that is basic enough. There is a dilemma where the content they need is the content they don't want to watch.

[jarrett-ye]

Yeah. I prefer to combine SRS and immersion learning, like the Refold method.