cactus wrote:

For some reason i think that using 2 SRS would be counterproductive..dunno why!

Well, you're quite right in that, so it's a good instinct to have.

The whole point of an SRS is to minimize your exposure to newly learned material.  It may not seem intuitive and logical ... but the truth is, the humand mind is wired in a way that a lot of exposure to something in a short amount of time will lead to you quickly forgetting it.

If you want something to go into your long-term memory, it's far better to "remind" yourself of a fact just before you forget it.  This tells your brain that you've got something that doesn't seem likely to disappear as a relevant bit of information any time soon, so it puts a longer deletion countdown on it for next time.  The first time you memorize something new, say, it may only be retrievable by your memory for up to one day.

If you wait until that day is almost over, however, and review it, it could be elongated to three days ... then seven ... then two weeks ... then, two months!  If you try to review MORE often, however, it just keeps recycling the bit of info in short-term memory.

In other words, less is better, so two SRS's could actually hinder you more than help.


As for Anki over this website, well ... I can tell you that the benefit of the user community built into this place is immense, for motivational reasons as well as practical (I've stolen countless stories).  The grading system in Anki is nice, but I find it much more suited to things like complete sentences (which leaves a lot more room for nuance) than single kanji.  You either remember a kanji, or you don't, so a strict yes-or-no paradigm (with an easily predictable review schedule) is pretty suitable.

I'd also make the argument that Reviewing the Kanji is portable, as well.  Anywhere there is Internet, and you can access it freely, you can review.

In the end, the choice is yours -- the important thing is that you learn, and make progress.  As long as you're doing that, and in a smart way with an SRS that you're using every day, everything else is just a detail.

Last edited by dukelexon (2008 March 09, 3:36 pm)

Check out the Anki vs RevTK thread.  Many people wrote about why they picked one over the other.  I think the most people who responded recommended using this site for heisig kanji and anki (or other SRS) for vocabulary and sentences.
My two yen: they both have their pros and cons.  I am an anki user (and fan), and like vosmiura I switched my reviews to anki.  But for Heisig`s method, I really think this site is a better SRS.  Here is why: when you miss a kanji using this SRS, you are encouraged to stop and re-imagine, or re-invent your story whereas with anki, you are more encouraged to drill, drill, drill, until you have it (which is in direct opposition to Heisig`s method).

laner36 wrote:

Here is why: when you miss a kanji using this SRS, you are encouraged to stop and re-imagine, or re-invent your story whereas with anki, you are more encouraged to drill, drill, drill, until you have it (which is in direct opposition to Heisig`s method).

It's a good point.  However I've read many times on this forum how people finish RTK1 with hundreds of failed kanji, whereas studying with Anki that's not going to happen because Anki will kick your ass to study the failed kanji.  It may encourage drilling your stories a bit, but I don't think that I drilled all that much, and it worked.

Last edited by vosmiura (2008 March 10, 1:58 am)

i'm workin on my kanjis,goin for frame 50.
being used to anki and to not more than 80 entries,reviewing here on revtk seems strange to me.I used to review the same stuff even twice a day,now i am reviewing less frequently following revtk schedule,with constant fear to forget something!
I guess that's here where good stories play their role!
I probably have to find my pacing..i add frames on evening,but i review them for the first time only the day after..then on morning and afternoon i review some stuff..
hope it works!

dukelexon wrote:

cactus wrote:

I used to review the same stuff even twice a day,now i am reviewing less frequently following revtk schedule,with constant fear to forget something!

When I was first starting out, I worried about the same thing.  I worried so much, in fact, that I made the mistake of second-guessing myself (and the research) and reviewing early, before the cards expired.  All that did was put them into the next box way too soon, and undermined the whole system.

You'll be very surprised at how well you remember, and how little time you had to spend ... relative to other methods, of course!

well i'm actually not reviewing until the cards expire..but i have to admit that i often try to guess.For example,i'm at school,bored as hell,and i think about some kanjis i studied.
Not sure if it's the right thing to do..