Spaced Repetition Software (SRS)

It's a little difficult to explain simply how SRS work. When you first learn a fact, you need to be reminded of it in short intervals if you want it to stick. For example, learning someone's name - if you do not hear/use it frequently by being in contact with the person, chances are good that you will forget it.

SRS are programs which handle the reminders for you. Here's an example:

1. You have a card come up which says the Japanese word, はい (hai)
2. You click to turn over the card and find that the English is 'yes'
3. You click one of the available buttons to indicate whether you got the answer and how difficult it was.
4. Your SRS will take that information and show you difficult cards more often, and easy ones less often.

Though the theory behind it is rather complicated, using it is ridiculously simple. You find a a deck (the name for a set of cards) with the material you wish to learn, or create one of your own, and the software handles the rest. The best part is, it is not restricted to language learning! You could revise for an exam by creating a deck with past paper questions.

Even though it may seem amazing to be able to remember all the common-use kanji (around 2k), it really is quite simple by using stories and an SRS to remember them.

There are several free SRS available, and it's up to you which you prefer. Reviewing the Kanji is an SRS specifically for kanji learning (as I mentioned in the previous post). Anki and smart.fm are the two main ones, it's really down to personal preference which you use. Both have plenty of pre-created decks for you to use, though it is better for you to make your own decks of things that you WANT to learn, not what the education system thinks you should. Try both out and see which you feel more comfortable with, or which has the features you want.

You will be using your SRS at all stages of the language learning process, so find one you like before we go any further. It's little use learning new Japanese words if you forget them in a few days or a few minutes.