How to Teach Yourself a Language Using Flashcards

Co-authored by Tian Zhou

Last Updated: January 3, 2022 References

Flashcards are a simple and common way to study for school and memorize facts, but they are also very useful at home for learning a new language. Instead of reading lists of vocabulary from a book, it is beneficial to work step by step, writing out sentences and adding pictures that will strengthen your recall ability. This happens from involving different parts of the brain. With a little preparation, you too can make flash cards that will help you master a new language.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Flashcards

1
Find existing flashcards. Making and customizing your own is the most impactful way to learn, but you can also buy flashcards or find them online. Check retail stores or phone applications. You can use programs to make your own simple flashcards that you use the same way as you would paper ones. This is at the very least an easy way to start before you tailor your own flashcards to your needs.^{[1]
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- Sites or applications such as Quizlet, Flashcard.Online or FlashcardExchange allow you to make or share flashcards.
- Be wary of shared flashcards. They may be incorrect or not relevant to you.
2
Learn language characters. Some languages have their own separate alphabets from the one that you’re used to. If you want to speak Japanese, for instance, you’ll want to start at the most basic level, which are the characters of the kana. Search online for the alphabet. Practice writing the character and then put it on one side of the flashcard. On the other side, write down the pronunciation.^{[2]
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- For even better flashcards, if you know a word that includes the character or character’s sound, write the word on the front. Highlight the letter and ask for its pronunciation.
- Mnemonic devices help. This is when you attach the subject to something that helps you remember. For instance, the Japanese hiragana symbol for the sound “te” may resemble a table to you. The association with the word table helps you remember the character’s shape and sound.^{[3]
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3
Make a list of simple words. Search online for a list of the most common words or think of them yourself. For instance, in any language you’re most likely going to need to learn “hello” or “yes” before you learn “elephant.” Prioritize those words. Write them down on the front of note cards.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 March 2021.}
4
Search online for related images. Instead of writing the definition of the word on the back of the flashcard, try using a search engine. Type the word into an image search. Choose the image that stands out the most, keeping in mind the unique meaning of the word, and print out the image. Paste it onto the back of your flashcard for a visible reminder of the word’s meaning.^{[5]
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- In English, for example, the word bark can mean tree bark or a dog’s bark. The pictures will remind you of the context.^{[6]
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- The more memorable or personal the image, the easier the word will be to remember. Try using pictures that stand out, such as a colorful dress or your mom’s memorable dress to remember the word dress.
5
Imagine an image for gendered words. Some languages use gender tags in their grammar. Highlight these in different colors on some of your cards. Come up with a significant image that will help you remember the gender assigned to the word. Once you get the hang of the language’s grammar rules, you won’t need to keep doing this.^{[7]
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- In Spanish, for example, in the word “la radio,” the article “la” means the word is feminine. You can choose an image for “la” words such as the object melting into a puddle. Picture the radio melting into a puddle when you come across this flashcard.
6
Make grammar cards. Once you’ve gotten the basic words, it’s time to put them into sentences. Write a sample sentence. Substitute the verb you’re trying to learn for a blank line. You can leave the infinite form of the verb (for example, to dance) in brackets to remind yourself to conjugate dance. Include an appropriate image. On the back of the card, write out the correct answer.^{[8]
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- Your mind will work through the verb forms and use them in context, which works better than remembering a list of them from a book.
- Search Google Images in the language you’re trying to learn for phrases you can use. Try searching in Google Translate for translated phrases with pictures.^{[9]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Using Flashcards

1
Shuffle your cards. Separating similar cards of foreign words may sound difficult, but this is the best way to learn. Leaving similar words together or keeping them in alphabetical order creates confusion. The words sound too much alike or have similar meanings, so they’ll both come to mind later when you want to recall the word.
2
Read the cards out loud. When you pick up the flashcard, read the entire card. Sound out the words and do the same for the answer. Take your time doing this. By speaking and hearing the language, you’ll create an even stronger connection that will help you remember later.
3
Flip the cards over. Many of your cards work in reverse. If you learned the Spanish word for dog by reading “perro” on the front, start from the other side. Using the image of the dog or the word dog, try to recall the Spanish word. Doing this gives you a new angle for learning, which keeps you from simply memorizing cards.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 March 2021.}
4
Customize what you learn. Once you have the basics, it’s useful to tackle the areas of most interest to you. For instance, if you plan on visiting restaurants, study up on the relevant language. Make cards with food words and the phrases you’d say to a waiter.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 March 2021.}
5
Repeat practice. Your mind requires refreshing in order to keep the memory strong. Practice your recall by reshuffling your flashcards every few days. Go through them the same way as before, reading and answering the questions. Make new examples if you feel like you need to freshen your memory.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 March 2021.}
- Over time, the repetition helps you commit the lessons to memory. The more you remember, the less often you’ll need to review.

Expert Q&A

Question

Are flashcards effective for language-learning?

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Tian Zhou is a Language Specialist and the Founder of Sishu Mandarin, a Chinese Language School in the New York metropolitan area. Tian holds a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) from Sun Yat-sen University and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from New York University. Tian also holds a certification in Foreign Language (&ESL) - Mandarin (7-12) from New York State and certifications in Test for English Majors and Putonghua Proficiency Test from The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. He is the host of MandarinPod, an advanced Chinese language learning podcast.

Tian Zhou

Language Specialist

Expert Answer

Absolutely! They're really helpful when it comes to learning the most commonly used words. It won't help you master the language or anything, but it's a great way to get the basic vocabulary down.
Question

Why do people like using flashcards for this?

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Tian Zhou is a Language Specialist and the Founder of Sishu Mandarin, a Chinese Language School in the New York metropolitan area. Tian holds a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) from Sun Yat-sen University and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from New York University. Tian also holds a certification in Foreign Language (&ESL) - Mandarin (7-12) from New York State and certifications in Test for English Majors and Putonghua Proficiency Test from The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. He is the host of MandarinPod, an advanced Chinese language learning podcast.

Tian Zhou

Language Specialist

Expert Answer

They're really easy to make and customize. They're disposable, and you can bring them with you basically anywhere. It's also nice that they don't need to be fancy or anything to be effective.
Question

How many words should I memorize at a time? There are so many words to learn!

Tian Zhou
Language Specialist
Tian Zhou is a Language Specialist and the Founder of Sishu Mandarin, a Chinese Language School in the New York metropolitan area. Tian holds a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) from Sun Yat-sen University and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from New York University. Tian also holds a certification in Foreign Language (&ESL) - Mandarin (7-12) from New York State and certifications in Test for English Majors and Putonghua Proficiency Test from The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. He is the host of MandarinPod, an advanced Chinese language learning podcast.

Tian Zhou

Language Specialist

Expert Answer

You don’t have to memorize every single word you don’t know in order to improve your language skills. The task of memorizing every word is simply too daunting and it can often be counterproductive. Try to tackle roughly 20 words per lesson, every day.