Spaced repetition systems. Who needs 'em?
Think about the rationale behind them. They are to remind you of words or phrases (sometimes even whole sentences) of what you want to learn, right?
So why do people need reminding?
Because otherwise it would take too long before they encounter those words again, by which time they will have largely forgotten them.
So SRS are good then, right? They serve a useful function.
But here's the thing: why would too much time elapse? It's because most people do too little. They process too little language.
So what happens if they do the opposite. What if they get mega-dose exposure? They'd come across the words more frequently. Especially the most frequently used words i.e. the most useful. The ones that are worth internalizing.
Therefore, if you do enough reading and listening (or ListenReading) then there's no need for an SRS.
So as to keep this project a game instead of an obsession I bring in the die (dice) and kitchen timer.
The timer is for measuring off intervals, naturally. For everyone there must be an optimum amount of time to engage on an activity. It may be as little as 10 minutes. Or it may be as much as 90 minutes.
Bringing in a dice introduces a random factor.
Let's say I roll it twice. Then there are 36 possible permutations. I can divide these up between my languages: 15 for Japanese, 10 for Dutch, 5 for German, and 6 'free' rolls that allow me to do what I want, or to start another language.
Furthermore, I can divvy up the 15 Japanese throws to the different activities I've chosen to do: say 5 for kanji, 3 for sentences, 2 each for lJrE, lErJ, and lJrJ etc.
Instead of doing a lot at once, do a little often.
That's the best way to get used to a language.
Every time that you switch from from one language to another, you get better at it.
It's like training for the transitions in a triathlon.
So twelve 5-min periods of 'doing' your target language is better than one whole hour at a time.
Rock around the clock!
