📚 Finally Learn a Language

🌟 Overview

Finally Learn a Language is a powerful Android application designed to help you efficiently learn and retain vocabulary in any language using the scientifically-proven Leitner spaced repetition system. Whether you're learning French, Spanish, Japanese, or any of the 12 supported languages, this app adapts to your learning pace and focuses on words you need the most practice with.

🚀 Getting Started

First Time Setup

1. Choose Your Interface Language
   Tap Settings → Select Language to choose from 12 available languages. This is the language the app's interface will display in.
2. Add Words to Your Database
   You have three options:
   • Add Manually: Tap "Add New Words" on the main screen
   • Import from Excel: Tap "Database Management" → "Import Excel File"
   • Use Sample Data: Download sample Excel files from "Database Management" → "Excel File Samples"
3. Configure Your Practice Settings
   Go to Settings to configure:
   • Practice length (5-30 words per session)
   • Practice mode (Visual or Listening)
   • Reminder schedule
4. Start Practicing!
   Tap "Practice Words" on the main screen to begin your first session.

🎓 Practice Modes

Visual Mode (Default)

In Visual mode, words and example sentences are displayed on screen during practice. This mode is ideal for:

• Reading comprehension practice
• Learning to recognize written forms
• Beginners who need visual reinforcement
• Languages with complex writing systems (Chinese, Japanese, Arabic)

How it Works:

1. You see the word/expression in your target language
2. You see an example sentence using that word
3. You select the correct meaning from multiple choice options
4. You can tap the speaker button to hear pronunciation

Listening Mode (Advanced)

In Listening mode, words and examples are hidden and automatically read aloud. This mode is perfect for:

• Improving listening comprehension
• Training your ear to the target language
• Advanced learners who want a challenge
• Practicing pronunciation and accent recognition

How it Works:

1. The word and example are automatically spoken (hidden from view)
2. Listen carefully to the pronunciation
3. Select the correct meaning from the options
4. After answering, the word is revealed for confirmation

Practice Session Flow

1. The app selects words from different Leitner boxes (prioritizing words you struggle with)
2. You see/hear the word and an example sentence
3. Choose the correct meaning from 4 options
4. Get immediate feedback (correct/incorrect)
5. Words move between boxes based on your performance
6. View your session results at the end

📦 Understanding the Leitner System

The Leitner system is a scientifically-proven spaced repetition method that optimizes learning by reviewing words at increasing intervals. Words you struggle with are reviewed more frequently, while words you know well are reviewed less often.

The 5 Boxes Explained

How Words Move Between Boxes

Word Selection Algorithm

During each practice session, the app intelligently selects words using this distribution:

• 50% from Box 1 (words needing most practice)
• 30% from Box 2 (recently learned words)
• 15% from Box 3 (improving vocabulary)
• 5% from Boxes 4-5 (maintenance review)

Viewing Your Progress

1. Tap Reports on the main screen
2. See the distribution of words across all 5 boxes
3. View total word count for your current database
4. Tap View Box Contents to see specific words in each box

💾 Database Management

Creating Multiple Databases

You can create separate databases for different purposes:

• Different languages (e.g., "French Vocabulary", "Spanish for Travel")
• Different topics (e.g., "Business French", "Cooking Terms")
• Different learning levels (e.g., "Beginner", "Advanced")

To Create a New Database:

1. Go to Database Management
2. Tap Select Database
3. Tap the + button
4. Enter a name for your database
5. Your new empty database is now active

Switching Between Databases

1. Tap Database Management from the main menu
2. Tap Select Database
3. Choose from your list of databases (word count shown)
4. The selected database becomes active

Renaming a Database

1. Go to Database Management → Select Database
2. Long-press on the database you want to rename
3. Enter the new name
4. Tap Save

Backup and Restore

Creating a Backup:

1. Go to Database Management
2. Tap Backup Current Database
3. A backup file is created with timestamp
4. Backup location is displayed in a confirmation message

Restoring from Backup:

1. Go to Database Management
2. Tap Restore from Backup
3. Confirm you want to restore (this will replace current data)
4. Your database is restored to the last backup state

Resetting a Database

Resetting moves ALL words in your current database back to Box 1. Use this if you want to:

• Start fresh with the same vocabulary
• Review all words as if they were new
• Prepare for a comprehensive review

1. Go to Database Management
2. Tap Reset Current Database
3. Confirm your decision
4. All words are moved to Box 1 (Leitner boxes reset)

⚙️ Settings & Customization

Practice Reminders

Set up multiple daily reminders to maintain consistent practice habits.

Enabling Reminders:

1. Go to Settings
2. Toggle Practice Reminders ON
3. Grant notification permission when prompted (Android 13+)
4. Set your reminder times and frequency

Managing Reminder Times:

• Set Time: Opens a dialog to manage all your current reminder times
• Add Time: Quickly add another reminder time
• Set Interval: Choose how often reminders recur (daily, every 2 days, etc.)

Practice Session Length

Customize how many words appear in each practice session:

• 5 words: Quick 2-minute sessions
• 10 words: Short focused practice
• 15 words: Balanced session
• 20 words (default): Standard practice
• 25 words: Intensive review
• 30 words: Extended deep practice

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Set Practice Length
3. Select your preferred number of words
4. Future sessions will use this length

Practice Mode (Word Visibility)

Switch between Visual and Listening modes:

1. Go to Settings
2. Toggle Word Visibility:

• ON (Visual Mode): Words and examples shown on screen. Tap speaker to hear pronunciation.
• OFF (Listening Mode): Words and examples hidden and automatically read aloud for listening comprehension.

Interface Language

Change the language of the app's interface:

Supported Languages:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Select Language
3. Choose your preferred interface language
4. App restarts with new language

📊 Excel Import & Export

Excel File Format

Your Excel file should follow this structure for successful import:

Column Details:

• Column A (word): The word or expression in your target language
• Column B (meaning_n): The English translation/meaning
• Column C (meaning_w): The word/meaning in the practice language (for French: word in French, for English: the word itself)
• Columns D-F (example1, example2, example3): Example sentences in target language (at least example1 is required)
• Column G (difficulty_level): Number from 0-100 indicating word difficulty
• Column H (level): Word proficiency level (typically 0 for new words)
• Column I (leitner_box): Initial Leitner box (1-5), typically start with 1

Importing Excel Files

1. Prepare Your Excel File
   Create or download a sample Excel file following the format above.
2. Transfer to Device
   Save the Excel file to your Android device (Downloads folder recommended).
3. Import Process
   
   • Go to Database Management
   • Tap Import Excel File
   • Select your Excel file from device storage
4. Choose Import Option
   You'll be asked how to handle the import:
   • Add to Current Database: Appends words to existing database
   • Replace Current Database: Deletes current words and imports new ones
   • Create New Database: Creates a new database with imported words
5. Confirmation
   The app shows how many words were successfully imported.

Getting Sample Files

1. Go to Database Management
2. Tap Excel File Samples
3. Sample files for various languages will be downloaded/shared
4. Use these as templates for your own word lists

➕ Adding Words Manually

You can add words directly through the app without needing Excel files.

1. Open Add Words Screen
   Tap Add New Words from the main menu.
2. Fill in Word Details
   
   • Word or Expression: Enter the word in your target language
   • Meaning (English): English translation
   • Meaning (Practice Language): Translation in target language
   • Example 1: First example sentence (required)
   • Example 2: Second example sentence (optional)
   • Example 3: Third example sentence (optional)
   • Difficulty (0-100): How difficult is this word?
   • Container Number (1-5): Which Leitner box to start in (usually 1)
3. Save the Word
   Tap Add Word to save it to your current database.
4. Continue Adding
   The form clears, ready for the next word.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: How often should I practice?

A: Ideally, practice daily for 10-20 minutes. Consistency is more important than long sessions. The spaced repetition system works best with regular, frequent practice.

Q: Why do some words keep appearing in my practice sessions?

A: Words in lower boxes (especially Box 1) appear more frequently because they need more practice. Once you consistently answer them correctly, they'll move to higher boxes and appear less often.

Q: Can I learn multiple languages at once?

A: Yes! Create separate databases for each language (e.g., "French Basics", "Spanish Travel"). Switch between them in Database Management.

Q: What's the difference between "Difficulty" and "Container" when adding words?

A: "Difficulty" (0-100) is your personal rating of how hard the word is. "Container" is the Leitner box (1-5) where the word starts. New words typically start in Container 1.

Technical Questions

Q: The app won't read words aloud. What's wrong?

A: Check these:

• Ensure Text-to-Speech is installed for your target language in Android settings
• Go to Settings → Apps → Text-to-Speech and verify the language pack is downloaded
• Restart the app after installing language packs

Q: My Excel import failed. What could be wrong?

A: Common issues:

• File is not .xlsx format (save as Excel Workbook, not CSV)
• Missing required columns (Word, Meaning, Example 1)
• Difficulty values outside 0-100 range
• Container values outside 1-5 range
• Empty rows in the Excel file

Q: Can I export my database to Excel?

A: Currently, the app supports importing from Excel but not exporting. You can create backups of your database which are saved as text files.

Q: I lost my data. Can I recover it?

A: If you created a backup before losing data, go to Database Management → Restore from Backup. This is why regular backups are recommended, especially before major changes.

Practice Questions

Q: What happens if I tap "Je ne sais pas" (I don't know)?

A: The word is treated as incorrect and moves back to Box 1 for more frequent review. This helps ensure you focus on words you don't know well.

Q: Can I review specific boxes only?

A: Not during practice sessions, but you can view the contents of any box by going to Reports → View Box Contents → Select Box.

Q: Why does the app show words I already know?

A: Even mastered words (Box 5) need occasional review to maintain retention. About 5% of your practice includes these maintenance reviews.

Q: Can I skip the session results screen?

A: No, the results screen provides important feedback on your progress. However, you can tap "Done" to quickly return to the main menu.

Settings Questions

Q: I'm not receiving practice reminders. Why?

A: Check:

• Reminders are enabled in Settings
• Notification permission is granted (Android 13+)
• Do Not Disturb mode isn't blocking notifications
• Battery optimization isn't preventing background alarms

Q: How do I change the app's interface language?

A: Settings → Select Language → Choose your preferred language. The app will restart with the new language.

Q: Does changing the interface language affect my word database?

A: No! The interface language only changes the app's menus and buttons. Your word database (which can be in any language) remains unchanged.

📧 Support & Feedback

Send Feedback

From the main menu, tap Send Feedback to:

• Report bugs or technical issues
• Request new features
• Share suggestions for improvement
• Ask questions

This opens your email app with a pre-formatted message to [email protected]

Tips for Better Support

Privacy & Data

All your data is stored locally on your device. The app does not:

• Send your word lists to external servers
• Collect personal information
• Track your usage
• Require an account or login

🎯 Quick Tips for Success