What is spaced repetition?
Spaced repetition is a learning technique where reviews happen at growing intervals instead of bluntly repeating everything over and over. HolaRuta implements this with a simplified SM-2 algorithm.
HolaRuta / Travel Spanish for Latin America
How does spaced repetition work in HolaRuta?
HolaRuta uses a simplified SM-2 algorithm: after every rating, the app recalculates when a card should resurface most efficiently - cards you know well repeat less often; cards you forget come back sooner.
How a review works in HolaRuta
- HolaRuta shows you a due flashcard (question in German/English, answer in Spanish).
- You rate it honestly: "Again" (wrong/forgotten), "Good" (correct but effortful), or "Easy" (knew it instantly).
- HolaRuta's algorithm adjusts the interval until the next review: "Again" resets it, "Good"/"Easy" extend it.
- The card automatically resurfaces on the calculated day - never too early, never too late.
What's happening under the hood?
In HolaRuta, every card carries a learning state made of an ease factor, an interval (in days), a due date and a repetition count. The ease factor is clamped to a sensible range so cards never become endlessly easy or endlessly hard.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I forget vocabulary if I don't use spaced repetition?
Without scheduled review, newly learned material fades quickly (the "forgetting curve"). HolaRuta reviews a card right when you're about to forget it, which cements it long-term instead of letting it fade.
Do I have to study in HolaRuta every day?
No, but regular, short sessions work best with spaced repetition - HolaRuta only shows you the cards that are actually due each day.