Spaced repetition: the science-backed way to learn & remember vocabulary
If you’ve ever tried to learn German vocabulary only to find the words slip away after a few days, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t your memory – it’s how the brain processes new information.
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If you’ve been learning German for a while, you probably know the frustration: you study a list of words, feel confident… and a week later, half of them (or even more) have vanished from your memory.
It’s not because you’re “bad at languages” – it’s simply how the brain works. New information is fragile, and unless it’s revisited at the right time, it fades away.
The solution isn’t to spend hours drilling every day – it’s to review smarter. That’s exactly what spaced repetition is designed to do.
Why our brains forget
Back in the late 19th century, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered the forgetting curve. His experiments showed that after learning something new, we start forgetting it almost immediately – losing up to 70% within the first 24 hours.
But here’s the good news: every time we review the material, the curve “resets” and forgetting slows down. With the right timing, you can move a new word from your short-term memory into long-term storage, where it’s much easier to retrieve.
How spaced repetition works
Spaced repetition is simple but powerful:
· When you learn a new word, review it soon afterwards (the next day).
· If you remember it, wait a bit longer before reviewing again.
· Each successful recall means you can increase the gap between reviews.
Over time, you’re revisiting the same word less often, but at exactly the moments your brain needs a reminder.
Example with der Schmetterling (butterfly):
Day 1: Learn the word in context.
Day 2: Quick review.
Day 5: Another review.
Day 12: Review again.
Day 25: Check once more – if you still remember it, you’ve almost locked it in for life.
Why it’s perfect for language learning
Learning a language means dealing with thousands of words, and not all of them stick equally. Without a system, you risk wasting time on words you already know while forgetting the tricky ones.
Spaced repetition focuses your effort on the vocabulary (words, expressions) that’s about to fade, so every minute you spend is effective. It also trains you to recall words actively – the same way you’ll need to use them in conversation.
Fun fact: This method is used not just by language learners, but also by pilots, medical students, and chess masters to master huge amounts of information.
Making it practical: tools and habits
While you can do spaced repetition with pen and paper, most learners use apps that do the scheduling for you:
· Anki – free, customizable, and works on all devices.
· Quizlet – user-friendly, with ready-made flashcard sets.
· Memrise – focuses on vocabulary, combines spaced repetition with real-life video examples.
Pro tip: Always learn words in context. Don’t just study der Tisch – study Der Tisch steht im Wohnzimmer (“The table is in the living room”).
Common mistakes to avoid
· Adding too many words at once – aim for 10–15 new ones per day.
· Skipping review sessions – the system only works if you follow the schedule.
· Learning isolated words without seeing how they’re used in real sentences.
A success story
One of my students preparing for the telc B2 exam added just 20 new words a day to her Anki deck. After three months, she had mastered over 1,200 terms – and recognised almost all of them in her listening and reading tests. She didn’t just memorise them; she could use them naturally in conversation.
The bottom line
Spaced repetition isn’t about studying more – it’s about studying at the right moments. With just 15–20 minutes a day, you can build a vocabulary that not only sticks in your mind, but also flows naturally in conversation.
*Scientific Evidence Behind Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is not just a popular learning hack – it’s one of the most researched and validated methods in cognitive psychology and education.
Hermann Ebbinghaus (1885) – First described the forgetting curve and demonstrated how reviewing information at spaced intervals slows down forgetting. 📎 Original text in German
Cepeda et al. (2006) – Meta-analysis of 254 studies showing spaced practice is significantly more effective than cramming for long-term retention. 📎 Read the study
Kornell & Bjork (2008) – Found that spaced repetition improves not only recall but also the ability to transfer knowledge to new contexts, a key skill in language learning.
Kang (2016) – Review article recommending the integration of spaced repetition into educational programmes, including language courses.
💡 In short: spaced repetition works because it strengthens memory traces at just the right time, making it easier to recall vocabulary when you actually need it – in conversation, writing, or exams.
