sfwrtr
New member
From: Los Angeles CA
Registered: 2009-06-10
Posts: 5
Heisig's recommendation for flash cards includes not only the keyword but a provision for the story. In RTK V1 pg 45 he writes "Only fill this in [the space for the story] when you need to."
He suggested that you write your story upside down on the card so that you don't accidentally read it until you feel you are stuck. Remember, we are supposed to go from the keyword, using the story, to remember the kanji. I wrote my paper flash cards that way, but now that I am using this website (which is terrific!), I would like to refer to my stories when I get stuck.
Heisig wrote also on pg 45 that, "If a kanji causes you trouble, spend time clarifying the imagery of its story." My abstraction of this and his recommended structure for the flash card is that if I cannot remember the kanji using the keyword, it is better to read the story, then to generate the kanji from the story than it is to just mark the card as missed and study it later.
So... could you please add a second option in review mode along with the F option? Press S to display the story (assuming you added one, of course).
Thanks!
vosmiura
Member
From: SF Bay Area
Registered: 2006-08-24
Posts: 1085
He suggested that you write your story upside down on the card so that you don't accidentally read it until you feel you are stuck. Remember, we are supposed to go from the keyword, using the story, to remember the kanji. I wrote my paper flash cards that way, but now that I am using this website (which is terrific!), I would like to refer to my stories when I get stuck.
Heisig wrote also on pg 45 that, "If a kanji causes you trouble, spend time clarifying the imagery of its story." My abstraction of this and his recommended structure for the flash card is that if I cannot remember the kanji using the keyword, it is better to read the story, then to generate the kanji from the story than it is to just mark the card as missed and study it later.
Well, Heisig doesn't specify a Spaced Repetition System or how to use one at all in his book. Abstracting anything about how to pass or fail cards in an SRS is a stretch.
You should refer to the story and try to strengthen it when you forget the kanji. However the passing & failing when reviewing on this site is based on the Leitner flashcard review system; if you forget the card then you should fail the card - so that you will review it more often.
The purpose of clarifying the imagery of the story is so that next time you will have a better chance of remembering from it without props. If you forgot the link between keyword and story, focus on strengthening that link. If you remember the story but you make a mistake writing the kanji, try to strengthen the image or incorporate primitive positions in the story.
Sorry to be preaching to you, but you shouldn't be afraid to fail a card when reviewing. It is beneficial to review hard things more often.
If say you see the keyword "righteous" after 1 month and you can't remember the story at all, but then you look at the story and answer the card "Yes", the next time you will review the card is 2 months later. Why would you want to wait 2 months before testing yourself again when you couldn't remember it after 1 month? This would only get worse over time as review periods keep increasing.
If there was a "show story" option, it should be an automatic failure, or at a minimum it should regress the card 1 box IMO. The last thing you want when you are having trouble remembering something, is to review it less often.
Last edited by vosmiura (2009 June 14, 1:09 am)
sfwrtr
New member
From: Los Angeles CA
Registered: 2009-06-10
Posts: 5
To clarify: When I have to read the story, I fail the card also. Specifically, my suggestion was to add an *option* on the *keyword side of the card*. The story *should not* be shown by default, but only by using the option button or letter.
For example, were it S for story, pressing S adds the story to the back of the card below the keyword. You have to ask each time for each card to show the story. The next time the card shows, it would again show only the keyword.
I am not asking to ruin the experience for others that don't review this additional way suggested by the author. I was simply asking to make it more like the paper flash cards I currently use. For me, looking at the story when I realize I am stuck starts my review. I usu. write the kanji using the story and then put the card in my fail stack...
@vosmiura - Thanks for the opportunity to clarify. I guess my request was a bit vague [漠].
Last edited by sfwrtr (2009 June 14, 1:32 am)
Nukemarine
Member
From: 神奈川
Registered: 2007-07-15
Posts: 2347
Although I don't think RevTK needs this feature with it's current review system (pass/fail), you are able to do this with Anki and a plug-in (3 sided cards plug-in). Just put the story field as the hidden item, which is shown only when a hotkey is pressed (CNTL+R for example). Since Anki has a "barely remembered" option which essentially keeps the card at the same review level, this is reasonable.
Another reason you don't "need" to have a story shown on RevTK is the way you review missed cards. In RevTK, you have to look at the cards and click "learned". It forces you to revisit bad stories.
PS: Mind you, I'm always for the "option" to display a story during RevTK reviews as a hint. Options are not a bad thing usually.
Last edited by Nukemarine (2009 June 14, 1:47 am)
sfwrtr
New member
From: Los Angeles CA
Registered: 2009-06-10
Posts: 5
@Vosmiura - You are SO right!
My suggestion is already there on the test site. Pressing S pops up a window that allows you to not only see your story, but to edit it. You can use the S option on either the back or the front. VERY NICE!
I am one happy kanji student! 
Last edited by sfwrtr (2009 June 14, 4:02 am)
Surreal
Member
From: Sweden
Registered: 2009-05-18
Posts: 325
Along the lines of this (there's a discussion in the 100 kanji/day thread at RTK1 if anyone wants to read it), I'd like for RevTK to have the option for clarifying keywords - tassle [temple ceremonial-like thing] or party [political] for example. This is, I think, especially useful for non-native/master English speakers. I realize this might very well be on the 'to-do list' but I figured a reminder wouldn't hurt.
Just be careful not to stress about on the site, ファブリス! Gotta take care of yourself too.
Last edited by Surreal (2009 June 15, 4:09 am)
