Anki (which you can find here) is a spaced repetition system with the aim of helping you remember information. Spaced repetition systems are common and becoming increasingly well known in language learning circles. The way they work is after initially learning a piece of information (such as a word) you are tested on it shortly after to refresh it in your mind. If you recalled it correctly you will see it again after a longer period of time, such as a day. This interval increases each time you get it right. So if you get it right a day later you will see it again in about three days, then 5, then a week, a month, until you won’t expect to see it for a very long time. You can do this by hand (which I have done on occasion) but it is much easier to use software already out there.
My first exposure to a spaced repetition system was called mnemosyne, which I used to learn all of the Chinese radicals (before I learned about Heisig’s books). After I had a good handle on the radicals I discovered anki. I used anki to help me learn the meaning a pronunciation of the 1000 most common chinese words. And even though I did not only use anki, it was definitely useful in learning those words.
Pros
- Simple interface
- Most well known SRS software
- A lot of online help
- Plenty of premade decks, even in obscure languages like Icelandic
- Has apps for smart phones
- Supports Latex (for writing math equations)
- Can be customized
- Can help you memorize anything you want
Cons
- Advanced editing can be difficult
- Premade decks can cause problems if they are too big
I have recently started using anki again, I like that I can use it to learn a bunch of different languages at once, but in such a way where I learn and review about 50 words in the language I am currently focusing on, and a few words or phrases in my other languages. Plus the support for physics and math equations make it viable for math and science students who need to memorize equations or concepts for exams. Over all anki is a great piece of software and I highly recommend it. More information can be found at https://apps.ankiweb.net/. Check out this post for the other resources I used when learning Chinese.
