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The use of vocabulary flash cards is a traditional and convenient method of increasing your vocabulary. Flash card drills provide students with a means of memorizing key information. Information acquired through flash card drills is varied and may include such matters as math facts, sight words, and language vocabulary (Browder, D M & Roberts, M L (1993, p. 235)

In relation to vocabulary, the simplest flash cards contain a word on one side of the card and its definition on the other side. You can turn over the card immediately to see the definition of the word, or try to recall the definition yourself first, and then check the other side to verify your answer. It is by reviewing the card again and again, over a period of time, that you become proficient in the use of the word.

Flash cards are very versatile compared with dictionaries and other books; the words can be sorted into any order, or arranged into categories from general to specific, or grouped according to different themes, or in random order if you prefer.

However, it is the more complex vocabulary flash cards that reveal their real power as a vocabulary-learning tool:

‘In our own assessment, the flashcard approach is limited in value for most students unless some contextualizing embellishments are added to the ordinary, decontextualizing flashcard’ (Oxford, R & Crookall, D 1990, p. 578).

These embellished flash cards contain additional information about the word, such as the part of speech to which the word belongs, grammatical information, history, root word, forms, synonyms, antonyms, use in a sentence, pronunciation, use by famous writers, and just about anything related to it. Some of this additional information can be used for context or a category to group related words together. Even further, flash cards can contain adornments such as pictures and drawings to provide visual information for the learner.

Vocabulary flash cards are very easy to obtain. You can make the cards yourself with just paper, knife or scissors, a pen, and a dictionary. This method enables you to have flash cards that teach exactly the words you want.

However, commercial flash cards are more popular because of their ready availability, artistic appeal, and the visual information they provide. Online versions of flash cards are available widely on the Internet. Some of them must be purchased, but many of them are free.

Once you download these vocabulary flash cards, all you need is access to a good quality printer to produce colourful, attractive flash cards. Or you can buy sets of printed cards from a number of book stores and shops. Flash cards are available based on various themes and subjects, or for specific purposes, such as a particular examination.

An even more convenient way of acquiring flash cards is through vocabulary-building software. For example, the popular vocabulary-building software Ultimate Vocabulary includes pre-set and customizable vocabulary flash cards.

REFERENCES

Browder, D M & Roberts, M L 1993, ‘Guidelines for Flash Card Instruction,’ Journal of Behavioral Education, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 235-245.

Oxford, R & Crookall, D 1990, ‘Vocabulary Learning: A Critical Analysis of Techniques,’ TESL Canada Journal, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 566-593.