Language Learning with AI Flashcards

When we think about learning a new language, we often picture the usual go-tos: grammar-packed textbooks, endless exercises, listening to podcasts in a foreign language, or maybe even trying to chat with native speakers (while praying we don't sound totally confused!). These methods definitely have their value, but let's be honest—they can be tiring and not always the most effective.

Fun fact: Icelandic has barely changed in the last 1,000 years, so people in Iceland today can still read the old Viking sagas in their original language!

Learning a new language can be super rewarding, but let’s be real—it’s not always easy. I remember sitting with a stack of notes, trying to remember the difference between 'être' and 'avoir' in French ("être" (to be) and "avoir" (to have) are two of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs). For most of us, it’s not that we aren’t trying hard enough, it’s just that traditional methods don’t always stick. That’s where flashcards come in and completely transform the learning process. But these aren’t your typical flashcards—AI-powered flashcards take things up a notch, making them one of the most effective tools for mastering a language.

Flashcards have always been a go-to for learning languages. You write down vocab or grammar on small cards, quiz yourself, then flip them over to check the answer. Simple, right? They’re easy to carry around and get the job done. But traditional flashcards have their downsides—you can end up just memorising without fully understanding, and it’s a pain to track which cards you’ve mastered and which still need work. That’s where AI flashcards come in, completely changing the game with a more efficient and personalised way to learn. 

Wanting to learn Tagalog 

It all started with a job.

While working as a part-time retail associate, I had quickly come to realise that Filipinos make up a large percentage of the customer profile I was serving. This sparked my urge to learn their native language - Tagalog and be able to converse fluently with them. 

As a working student, a large proportion of my time is spent on revision to stay on track in school while juggling work. Nonetheless, I still wanted to venture down this exciting path of learning Tagalog. I knew I had to find an efficient way that was not too time-consuming to learn a new language. 

How I learnt Tagalog

Let’s start from the very beginning.

Numbers! The most important part of my job was dealing with prices and explaining the promotions to my customers. I knew that if I wanted to convince them to make a purchase, I had to be confident and present the promotions such that they feel that it is value-for-money. 

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that people often like to “mix” languages together. What do I mean by this? Let me give you a real-life example. 

Countless times have I heard “Minimum Dalawa (Two in Tagalog), 8 dollars each”

I used this to my advantage as I could practice conversing in my newly learnt Tagalog numbers. As time went on, I slowly picked up more complex terms. I deliberately selected terms that would be useful and easy to converse with others - Promotional and Greeting terms. 

Solve, Build and Improve

This is the simple strategy I stuck to. 

1. Set clear goals 

Overcome the difficulty of being introduced to new terms. Whether it’s learning 10 new words a day or nailing a set of phrases, having specific targets to work towards, helps you stay focused. 

Personally, I love to break up the content by having multiple sets of flashcards. In doing so, I can set clear goals to accomplish a set of terms everyday. Bear in mind that you are learning a new language after all so it is extremely important to pronounce the new terms correctly. 

2. Be Consistent

Set aside 30 minutes everyday to practice.

You can probably do it in a shorter duration if you are tight for time but I like to take my time to review each set of flashcards slowly and go through all the pronunciations in detail. 

It is pivotal that you at least go through 1 set of terms or phrases on a consistent basis to keep you up to speed. Make it a commitment to stick to a schedule you develop for yourself. For me, I set aside the 30 minutes before my bedtime to go through 1 set of flashcards everyday. 

3. Immerse yourself 

Don’t just read it. Speak it.

This part varies depending on your real-life situations. For me, I work in the retail sector where I get to interact with Filipino customers on a weekly basis. Therefore, I am able to practice conversing in Tagalog with them, practicing the new terms I learnt consistently. 

For your case, the simplest way is to practice with your family and friends. If they can speak the language fluently, you can attempt to converse with them on a daily basis. You can also participate in Social Media groups and forums dedicated to language learners. This offers you a low-pressure outlet to write and chat with native speakers. 

Why I find AI-flashcards to be more effective

There are 2 main reasons why I love using AI-Flashcards 

1. Less Time Consuming 

By simply uploading a document of notes I want to learn, flashcards are auto-generated merely in a matter of seconds. This is so much more efficient compared to the traditional way of handwriting the flashcards

2. Learning Companion 

Whenever I come across terms and phrases that I am unsure of, an explanation would be generated in real-time to clarify my doubts. In a sense, the AI Flashcards are like my personal learning companion that I can rely on. 

Lessons Learnt 

There are a couple of lessons I learnt in my language learning journey with AI Flashcards 

• Don’t be afraid to fail

Be brave. Step out of your comfort zone and be willing to converse with others in the new language you just picked up. More often than not, people would actually admire you even just for trying to speak the foreign language. The more you practice the new language in a conversational context, the more fluent you’ll become.

• Trust the process 

Learning is a process. Don’t get me wrong, learning a new language is much easier said than done. Embrace the process of learning as there will be many ups and downs along the way. The easiest way to overcome the challenges is to practice consistently. Whenever you encounter a set of terms or phrases that you are still unfamiliar with, go through them again multiple times in-depth.

Annnnnnnndd - that’s it! My ultimate guide to using AI Flashcards for language learning. You might want to try it out too! I hope you find it useful, especially if you’re trying to pick up a new language quickly in this digital age. 

This is only the beginning. If you can overcome the challenge of learning a new language, what else can you accomplish tomorrow?