518: NEVER use flashcards - learn vocabulary this way instead
Jan 28, 2026
A contrarian take on common study tools, arguing against flashcards and why they fall short. A deep dive into alternative ways to learn vocabulary that feel more natural. Links and resources are mentioned for further exploration of story-based language learning.
17:44
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Ditch Flashcards For Stories
Olly Richards emphasizes rejecting flashcards as a primary vocabulary tool in favour of story-based learning.
He frames story-based learning as a more natural, effective approach for long-term vocabulary retention.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
👉 Get your FREE Grammar and Vocab Study Sheet: https://l.storylearning.com/free_vocab
In this episode, we're revisiting a topic that I feel we'll be talking about until the end of time. The sun's going to expand to engulf the Earth and we're all going to be frazzled up like sausages and I'll be there until the end talking about this topic, which is flashcards.
👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question
Link mentioned in this episode:
What Really Matters in Vocabulary Acquisition?: https://gianfrancoconti.com/2025/04/26/what-really-matters-in-vocabulary-acquisition-a-ranked-analysis-of-key-influencing-factors/
👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses
👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info
StoryLearning Podcast