You learn a word today and a week later it is gone. That is not a lack of intelligence: it is how memory works. Spaced repetition is the technique that makes the biggest difference against forgetting.
The forgetting curve
In the 19th century, the German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus measured how we forget new information. The pattern he described is the forgetting curve: we forget quickly in the first few days, and each review makes the next decline slower.
In practice: if you review a word just before you would forget it, it comes back stronger and takes longer to fade next time.
How it works in practice
Instead of reviewing everything every day, you review each item at a growing interval:
| Review | Approximate interval |
|---|---|
| 1st | the next day |
| 2nd | 3 days later |
| 3rd | 1 week later |
| 4th | 2 to 3 weeks later |
| 5th | 1 to 2 months later |
If you get it wrong, the item goes back to a short interval. If it was easy, the interval grows faster.
The biggest mistake: isolated words
A card with “commitment = [translation]” works poorly, because you memorize the pair, not the usage. It works much better to review the sentence where you found the word: “She’s afraid of commitment.” You remember the meaning, the pronunciation and how to use it.
How to build your routine
- Save words from what you watch and read, with the original sentence.
- Review every day, even if only for 10 minutes. Skipping days creates piles.
- Limit new items: 5 to 15 a day is sustainable.
- Read the sentence out loud while reviewing.
- Delete what you do not need: a rare word you never saw again can go.
Spaced repetition and TV shows
The best review material is something you have already seen in context, because the memory of the scene helps you recall it. In Telidioma, the words you look up while watching become a review list with spaced repetition, keeping the original sentence. For more memory techniques, read how to remember vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best interval for reviewing vocabulary?
There is no fixed number. Apps adjust the interval based on your answers: if you remembered easily, the next interval grows; if you forgot, it goes back to short.
Does spaced repetition work without an app?
Yes. The classic method is the Leitner box system with paper cards. Apps only automate the interval calculation.
How many new words should I add per day?
Somewhere between 5 and 15 is sustainable for most people. Adding too many at once creates a pile of reviews that becomes a reason to quit.