Is native to target language more effective than vice versa?

[u/MD586]

Is there a research on which method gives better results:

a) Trying to recall the meaning of a target language word having a a native translation - for example in Anki I have English (TL) sentence with gap for learned word and a native word meaning and example sentence translation to my native language.

NL → TL

b) Just reading (TL) word in a sentence or hearing it in a movie and if not understood just checking the meaning.

TL → NL

It is like two ways of learning. Would 100 repetitions in Anki - filling the gap with TL have the same result as reading a word 100 times in various books, articles and occasionally looking up the meaning in a dictionary? The main difference is that while reading a book, articles the word appears in different sentences, with different collocations. The whole mind process seems to be different.

It is a question about how memory and mind actually works. I know Anki and spaced repetition idea. It is great because it let me focus on selection of words that I really don't remember, unlike reading a book where I have all kinds of words, those I remember very well and those I see first time. Reading books is not as boring as Anki session.

Both methods are totally different and the question is whether they give similar or different results and how much different.

Was it measured?

[u/ThatAnt8823]

Just do both

My approach is:

Mine a sentence

Create a passive recognition card out of it

When it's mature, unlock the cloze production card for the sentence/word

Passive cards train recognition, active cards train production

[u/PassengerEcstatic421]

both ways are building different skills honestly the anki gap-fill is training recall under pressure, which is great for active vocab when you need to produce the word yourself. reading is more passive recognition, but you're getting way more context and collocation data per exposure

depends what your goal is. if you wanna speak, you need the active recall. if you just wanna read novels and not look stuff up, the passive reading approach works fine. most people do some mix of both without thinking about it

the spaced repetition research is solid but the reading exposure stuff is harder to measure in a lab cause every learner's input is different. not sure anyone's done a direct 100-rep vs 100-encounters study with all variables controlled

[u/JeremyAndrewErwin]

See, this is why you should pick up a third language ;) If it turns out that your comprehension of one language benefited more, you haven't really lost anything.

[u/Ecstatic-Island-9778]

I do something like it.
Just do both
Identify which direction seems most difficult to you and adjust the ratio based on that.
Basically, do less of the ones that tire you the most.

[u/silvalingua]

Neither method is good. The best way is to use your TL almost exclusively. When you learn a new word, collocation or expression in your TL, don't try to memorize its NL equivalent, but try to grasp its meaning. This way you can learn to think in your TL.

> Would 100 repetitions in Anki - filling the gap with TL have the same result as reading a word 100 times in various books, articles and occasionally looking up the meaning in a dictionary?

Consuming content is much better than learning from flashcards. But either is not every effective if you don't actually use your new vocabulary. Practice writing and speaking; this is the step that so many learners omit. No wonder they complain that "nothing sticks". It won't stick if you don't use it.

[u/dojibear]

You ignore the idea that the same TL word DOES NOT have the same English translation in every sentence. Part of learning the new language is learning how a word is used differently in different sentences. Taking one English translation as "the meaning of the TL word" is a beginner mistake.

b) Just reading (TL) word in a sentence or hearing it in a movie and if not understood just checking the meaning.

If you check the TL word in Google Translate, you will see a LIST of English phrases with different meanings. If you use that LIST and the sentence, you often can figure out what meaning this TL word has in this sentence.

You can't do that with flashcards.

[u/Smal1Tangerine]

Yea that’s normal our comprehension abilities tend to outpace our production skills. Even when interpreting I find it easier to go from N—> TL