In my previous post, I introduced Anki as an excellent tool for memorization.
The Ultimate Learning Tool: Anki
This time, I’d like to share how I actually use Anki in my daily studies.
My Anki Decks
Below is a screenshot of my deck list.
I organize the content I want to remember into different categories.
The decks I regularly study range from “CLIL” to “中文” (Chinese).
The numbers in the image are all zero because I have completed my study session.
“New” increases when I add new cards to learn.
“Learn” is rarely used. It shows cards that I have started studying at least once.
“Due” consists of review cards. Completing these every day maximizes Anki’s effectiveness.
The Decks I Use
Since I teach English in Japan, most of my decks are related to English learning.
- CLIL: CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is a teaching approach that combines subject matter learning with foreign language learning. I create sentence-based flashcards for classroom expressions.
- Daily Conversation, In Class, Post: A deck for memorizing English expressions in full sentences.
- Japan Times Alpha, etc., Others: A collection of unknown words I encounter in news articles.
- Speech for Grade 1: Expressions used in the highest level of Japan’s Eiken English proficiency test.
- Vague Knowledge: Covers Japanese expressions, history, and geography, as I also teach Japanese and social studies.
- Work: A collection of communication challenges and solutions I’ve encountered at work.
- 中文 (Chinese): Since I study Chinese, this deck helps me memorize full sentences.
I also have several Japanese decks, which I am creating for my students.
Having experienced the benefits of Anki firsthand, I am confident that using it will improve my students’ academic performance.
The Key to Anki: Daily Consistency
Anki is most effective when used consistently.
Below is my study history since I started using the app.(2024 study history)
You can see the days of the week listed vertically as “SMTWTFS.”
Each blue square represents a day I studied, while black squares indicate days I didn’t.
I checked my records and found that I first used Anki on February 28, 2024.
I created and studied 28 cards on that day.
Since then, my usage has been on and off at times.
Initially, I was skeptical about whether the app would truly help with learning.
From around April 2024, I started using it almost daily.
I skipped about a week in July because I had COVID-19.
I suffered from a lingering cough for two months after that, but during that period, I continued studying by silently reviewing cards in my mind.
Here is my study history for 2025:
As of February 9, 2025, I have not missed a single day of study.
The Impact of Anki on My Learning
Since I started using Anki, I feel that many aspects of my life have become smoother.
The increase in my stored knowledge has not only improved my teaching but also made my conversations flow more easily.
I believe this is because Anki allows me to practice both input and output simultaneously.
As I explained earlier, I memorize full sentences instead of just individual words.
By accumulating expressions in my mind and practicing them aloud, I reinforce both input and output.
Speaking is an output activity.
To produce language, you need to use knowledge that is already stored in your mind.
This is why expanding your internal knowledge base is crucial.
Final Thoughts
This is how I use Anki.
Just like training the body, training the brain can lead to many positive changes.
I firmly believe that Anki is one of the most powerful tools for strengthening the mind.
I hope this article helps you on your learning journey!