Spaced Repetition Flashcards for Language Students

The forgetting curve is the core problem in language learning. A student can encounter a new word in a lesson, understand it in context, and then fail to recall it a week later when they need it. Without a systematic review process, vocabulary exposure in lessons doesn't reliably translate into long-term retention.

Spaced repetition is the best evidence-based solution we have. Unlike general-purpose flashcard tools that require teachers to build decks manually from preset word lists, SpeakRecap builds the deck automatically from what actually came up in the lesson - and keeps building it with every subsequent session. SpeakRecap builds it directly into the student experience, tied to every lesson from the start.

How the deck builds automatically

After each lesson is analysed, key vocabulary is extracted from the transcript and added to that student's flashcard deck. The words chosen are the ones that appeared in the actual conversation - not a preset vocabulary list from a textbook. If a student talked about job interviews, their deck gets interview vocabulary. If the lesson covered travel, it gets travel vocabulary. The deck is an accurate record of what that student has encountered.

Every card includes the word, the definition at the student's level, an example sentence, and a link back to the lesson where the word appeared. Context is preserved - students can always see where they first met a word.

The SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm

SpeakRecap uses the SM-2 algorithm to schedule reviews. SM-2 is the same algorithm that powers Anki, the most widely-used flashcard application among language learners. When a student rates how well they remembered a card, SM-2 calculates the optimal interval before showing that card again. Cards that are remembered easily get longer intervals; cards that cause difficulty get shorter ones.

The result is that students spend their review time efficiently. Easy words don't clog the queue; difficult words get more frequent practice until they stick.

Card modes that evolve with the word

New cards start simple and become progressively more challenging as they mature:

• Flip - see the word, recall the definition. The foundational mode for new vocabulary.
• Multiple choice - choose the correct definition from four options.
• Listen - hear the word spoken aloud, type it correctly.
• Collocations - complete a phrase using the target word in context.
• Recall - see the definition, produce the word from memory with no options shown.
• Use it in a sentence - write an original sentence using the word. The response is scored by AI on vocabulary accuracy, grammar, and coherence.

As a card accumulates successful reviews, it automatically unlocks more demanding modes. A word a student has seen 10 times and always remembered correctly will be tested through "use it in a sentence" rather than multiple choice. This keeps review sessions genuinely challenging rather than mechanical.

Chat-to-flashcard bridge

Vocabulary doesn't only come from formal lessons. When a student uses the AI conversation partner and encounters a new word, SpeakRecap can suggest adding it to their deck. After each chat session ends, the AI reviews the transcript and identifies up to six words the student might benefit from reviewing - excluding words already in their deck. The student can accept or decline each suggestion.

Teacher visibility

From your dashboard you can see each student's flashcard statistics: total cards in deck, cards due today, average maturity, and which words have failed the most reviews. If a word has been failed six times across different sessions, that's a signal worth noting before the next lesson.