Comments on: Word Lists Don’t Work (For Me) http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/ Just blogging about my language geekery. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:13:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Josh http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13976 Josh Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:17:54 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13976 Elliott: That's pretty much the approach I take. When reading, if I find a word I don't know (which seems to happen with nearly every sentence, despite how long I've been learning German), I lift the whole sentence out and put it into Anki along with a definition of the word in question. I <strong>love</strong> Anki. Elliott: That’s pretty much the approach I take. When reading, if I find a word I don’t know (which seems to happen with nearly every sentence, despite how long I’ve been learning German), I lift the whole sentence out and put it into Anki along with a definition of the word in question.

I love Anki.

]]> By: Elliott http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13975 Elliott Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:11:56 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13975 Totally agree. Words lists are boring and dull. I'm learning Japanese and just like this guy suggests here http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-how I'm using Anki to memorise sentences. Words lists make me feel like I'm trudging uphill through treacle. Totally agree. Words lists are boring and dull.
I’m learning Japanese and just like this guy suggests here
http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-how
I’m using Anki to memorise sentences. Words lists make me feel like I’m trudging uphill through treacle.

]]> By: lucas luky http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13462 lucas luky Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:44:36 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13462 i completely agree with you. most of the times if you can imagine a situation, an image or something fun about the word it's easier to remember later. i'm using the same strategy :) i completely agree with you. most of the times if you can imagine a situation, an image or something fun about the word it’s easier to remember later.

i’m using the same strategy :)

]]> By: Rmss http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13131 Rmss Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:51:12 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13131 Of course there is the technique of mnemonics where often one word is translated to one general word. But you still don't have any clue about how a conjugated word is. And, like I said, sentences help you remember is better anyway. Of course there is the technique of mnemonics where often one word is translated to one general word. But you still don’t have any clue about how a conjugated word is. And, like I said, sentences help you remember is better anyway.

]]> By: Josh http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13127 Josh Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:20:33 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13127 Hi Rmss: No worries, I don't have any copyrights on the idea. :) Another problem I've ran into with word lists is that one English word will end up having multiple translations in my target language. "Connection", for example: in German, it can be der Zusammenhang (for say, the connection / correlation between a language and one's identity), die Verbindung (for say, an internet connection), or der Anschluss (for a railroad connection or something similar). With something like that, I don't see how a word list is going to help much. Am I supposed to list all of the possible German words after "connection"? Hi Rmss: No worries, I don’t have any copyrights on the idea. :)

Another problem I’ve ran into with word lists is that one English word will end up having multiple translations in my target language. “Connection”, for example: in German, it can be der Zusammenhang (for say, the connection / correlation between a language and one’s identity), die Verbindung (for say, an internet connection), or der Anschluss (for a railroad connection or something similar).

With something like that, I don’t see how a word list is going to help much. Am I supposed to list all of the possible German words after “connection”?

]]> By: Rmss http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13116 Rmss Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:16:02 +0000 http://languagegeek.net/2008/03/03/word-lists-dont-work-for-me/#comment-13116 You nailed it, just nailed it. Today I wrote about the exact same thing (don't worry, it was before I read this post). Words in context just stick better because you can think of a situation (I see sentences as the stories they tell me) and remember the exact word. I just love it. You nailed it, just nailed it. Today I wrote about the exact same thing (don’t worry, it was before I read this post). Words in context just stick better because you can think of a situation (I see sentences as the stories they tell me) and remember the exact word. I just love it.

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