How to train number recognition in Anki?

apple · June 9, 2024, 5:23pm

I started my training on Anki to learn my 3-digit system based on the main system, and I wanted to ask some questions according to the way I train:
1st example: 007 in my system is Sasuke, when 007 appears in the deck you read SSK first , then subvocalize Sasuke and see the image? 2nd example: when 007 appears, do you try to go straight to the image?
3° how do you associate the number with the person themselves, if you only recognize the person or object
and last question: I train filtered decks of 25 numbers at a time, when I don’t know the person or objects I repeat them in 1 minute but I don’t know most of the people and it gets quite messy, would it be good to train with lower values? If anyone can help me I would be grateful

TheHumanTim · June 9, 2024, 5:36pm

This is a totally normal first phase of learning a number system. Think of it the way you learned to read. At first you see letters, you think about the sounds those letters make, then you squish the sounds together make words, and those words should hopefully bring images to mind.

Using the Major System for numbers is almost exactly the same except there are some sound gaps where arbitrary filler sounds are added like W, H, Y, and vowels.

It is totally normal to struggle at the beginning as your brain adapts to seeing numbers and reading them as sounds. There is no shortcut to getting more fluent with this. It takes repetition and practice.

Eventually with enough practice, you’ll see 007 and your brain will reflexively and subconsciously read it as sasuke and will visualize automatically, but that will take some time.

Not sure what you mean by this. If 007 is pronounced “sasuke” then that is how the association is made. There are systems where the numbers are more instinctively or visually associated like having 000 be associated with the image of linking magician rings or a three ring circus, but the major system is a language / sound association system where you just “read” the numbers. Do you need a way to associate the word “whale” with an image of a whale? Likely not because a whale is a “whale.” With practice, “007” will become “sasuke” for you.

Learning a 3-digit system to the point of fluency will require MONTHS of repetition practice. It will be hard, sometimes VERY hard. Know what you’re getting into so you can manage realistic expectations. Remember you’re not only training to “learn” the associations, but also to get them to the point of fluency so that you can go from number to visualized image in less than a second, ideally. This will take LOTS of reps. Expect to do hundreds of thousands of reps in Anki across hundreds of hours to get to that point.

One thing you DON’T want to do in anki when working on this is set the max interval too long. In order to get faster at recognition, you need to review each number frequently. I would not have a gap longer than 2 days between reviews or you won’t make progress with recognition speed. This means you’ll need to get to a point where you review 500 numbers per day minimum.