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Learning Strategiesby FlashRecall Team

Duolingo Flashcards 2022: Why Most Learners Needed More (And What Works Better Now)

duolingo flashcards 2022 confused everyone: no real spaced repetition, no true recall. See how pairing Duolingo with a flashcard app like Flashrecall fixes it.

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FlashRecall duolingo flashcards 2022 flashcard app screenshot showing learning strategies study interface with spaced repetition reminders and active recall practice
FlashRecall duolingo flashcards 2022 study app interface demonstrating learning strategies flashcards with AI-powered card creation and review scheduling
FlashRecall duolingo flashcards 2022 flashcard maker app displaying learning strategies learning features including card creation, review sessions, and progress tracking
FlashRecall duolingo flashcards 2022 study app screenshot with learning strategies flashcards showing review interface, spaced repetition algorithm, and memory retention tools

So… What Was The Deal With Duolingo Flashcards In 2022?

Alright, let's talk about duolingo flashcards 2022, because a lot of people were confused. Back then, Duolingo didn’t really have a true built-in flashcard system the way people expected – it was more about quick taps, matching, and multiple choice, not real active recall. That matters because if you want to actually remember vocab long-term, you need proper flashcards and spaced repetition, not just guessing from options. So people started searching for “duolingo flashcards 2022” trying to find a way to turn their Duolingo progress into real study cards. That’s exactly where apps like Flashrecall come in and fix what Duolingo was missing.

By the way, here’s Flashrecall if you want to check it out while you read:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Why Duolingo Alone Wasn’t Enough For Serious Vocabulary In 2022

Duolingo is fun, colorful, and great for getting started, but when it comes to actually owning words, it has a few big gaps:

  • You’re mostly recognizing words, not recalling them from scratch
  • It doesn’t give you true flashcard-style prompts where you have to think before you see the answer
  • You can’t easily build your own custom decks for the words you personally struggle with
  • If a word shows up less often, you kind of just… forget it

In 2022, a ton of learners were basically doing this combo:

> Duolingo for fun + some random flashcard app for serious memorization

Which is smart, but also annoying when your tools don’t work nicely together.

That’s why people started asking:

“Can I make Duolingo flashcards?”

“Is there a Duolingo flashcard mode?”

“Best flashcard app to use with Duolingo?”

And honestly, the best setup is exactly that:

Use Duolingo for practice and immersion-style exercises, and pair it with a proper flashcard app that handles spaced repetition, active recall, and custom decks.

What People Actually Wanted From “Duolingo Flashcards 2022”

If we break it down, when people searched “duolingo flashcards 2022,” they were usually hoping for at least one of these:

1. A built-in Duolingo flashcard feature

Like a “Cards” tab where you could review vocab directly.

2. A way to turn Duolingo words into flashcards

For example:

  • Take screenshots of word lists
  • Export vocab
  • Or quickly copy phrases and meanings into an app

3. Spaced repetition that actually works

Not just “random review,” but a system that:

  • Shows hard cards more often
  • Spreads out easy cards
  • Reminds you automatically when it’s time to review

4. Flexibility

  • Add your own example sentences
  • Add images, audio, notes
  • Make decks by topic (food, travel, grammar patterns, etc.)

Duolingo didn’t really give that full package, which is why pairing it with something like Flashrecall makes such a difference.

How Flashrecall Fixes What Duolingo Was Missing

If you like Duolingo but feel like the words don’t stick, here’s how Flashrecall fits in perfectly.

👉 App link again so you don’t have to scroll:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

1. True Flashcards With Active Recall

Duolingo mostly shows you options. Flashrecall forces your brain to remember first, then check.

  • Front of card: “to remember” (in your target language)
  • You think of the translation, type it or say it in your head
  • Flip to see if you were right

Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :

Flashrecall spaced repetition study reminders notification showing when to review flashcards for better memory retention

That’s active recall, which is way more powerful than just seeing the right answer in a list.

2. Automatic Spaced Repetition (No Manual Tracking)

Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders, so you don’t have to guess when to review.

  • If a card is easy → it comes back later
  • If a card is hard → it shows up more often
  • You get study reminders so you don’t forget to come back at all

This is the part Duolingo kind of half-does with its “practice” button, but not at the same level of control or personalization.

3. Turn Anything Into Flashcards (Perfect With Duolingo)

This is where it gets fun.

Flashrecall lets you make flashcards from:

  • Images (screenshots, textbook pages, Duolingo screens)
  • Text
  • Audio
  • PDFs
  • YouTube links
  • Or just typed prompts

So your workflow can literally be:

1. Do a Duolingo session

2. Screenshot tricky words or sentences

3. Drop the screenshot into Flashrecall

4. Boom — instant cards from that image

You can also just type in the words you missed or copy phrases you want to remember and turn them into cards in seconds.

And if you prefer, you can make flashcards manually too, with full control over front/back content.

4. “Chat With The Flashcard” When You’re Confused

One really cool thing Flashrecall adds that Duolingo doesn’t have:

You can chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure.

Example:

  • You’re learning “aunque” in Spanish
  • You see it on a card but don’t fully get how to use it
  • You open the chat for that card and ask things like:
  • “Give me 5 example sentences with ‘aunque’”
  • “Explain when to use ‘aunque’ vs ‘pero’ in simple terms”

So instead of just memorizing a word, you actually understand it — without leaving the app to Google it.

5. Works Offline, On iPhone And iPad

Duolingo is great on the go, but Flashrecall being fast, modern, and working offline means:

  • You can review your decks on the train, on a plane, in bad Wi‑Fi
  • Same account on iPhone and iPad
  • Free to start, so you can just try it alongside Duolingo with zero risk

Duolingo vs Flashrecall: Different Jobs, Perfect Combo

To be super clear: this isn’t “Duolingo vs Flashrecall – pick one.”

They actually do different things:

What Duolingo Is Great For

  • Daily streak motivation
  • Getting used to the language structure
  • Listening to short clips
  • Quick, low-friction practice
  • Gamified experience (XP, leagues, hearts, etc.)

What Flashrecall Is Great For

  • Nailing vocabulary and phrases long-term
  • Custom decks for:
  • Grammar patterns
  • Exam vocab
  • Travel phrases
  • Slang, idioms, whatever you want
  • Deep understanding using the chat with flashcard feature
  • Structured spaced repetition that doesn’t depend on Duolingo’s lesson order

Basically:

  • Use Duolingo to meet the words
  • Use Flashrecall to remember them for real

Example: How To Use Duolingo + Flashrecall In A Single Study Session

Let’s say you’re learning French.

Step 1: Do Your Duolingo Lesson

You go through a 10–15 minute lesson and you struggle with:

  • “toujours”
  • “souvent”
  • “parfois”
  • “ne… jamais”

You kind of get them, but they’re fuzzy.

Step 2: Capture The Tricky Bits

Right after the lesson:

  • Screenshot the summary / words you struggled with
  • Or write them down quickly

Step 3: Drop Them Into Flashrecall

In Flashrecall, you:

  • Import the screenshot → turn it into cards
  • Or manually create cards like:
  • Front: “toujours” → Back: “always” + example sentence
  • Front: “ne… jamais” → Back: “never” + 2–3 example sentences

You now have a mini deck just for that lesson.

Step 4: Let Spaced Repetition Do Its Thing

Over the next days:

  • Flashrecall sends you study reminders
  • You review in short bursts (5–10 minutes)
  • Hard words appear more; easy ones slowly fade out

After a week or two, those words feel totally natural when Duolingo throws them at you again.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Back in 2022, a lot of people thought:

> “If I just keep my Duolingo streak, I’ll be fluent.”

But what actually happens is:

  • You recognize words in the app
  • You freeze when you try to speak or write in real life

That gap is usually a memory problem, not a motivation problem.

Flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall are one of the most effective ways to fix that — and that’s exactly what Flashrecall is built around.

Plus, it’s not just for languages:

  • Exams
  • School subjects
  • University courses
  • Medicine
  • Business terms
  • Basically anything you want to remember

So, What’s The Best “Duolingo Flashcards 2022” Solution Now?

If you’re still searching for duolingo flashcards 2022 hoping there’s some hidden feature you missed, the honest answer is:

  • Duolingo itself never really had a full, flexible flashcard system
  • The best setup is Duolingo + a dedicated flashcard app
  • Flashrecall is designed to be that missing piece:
  • Instant flashcards from images, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube
  • Built-in active recall
  • Automatic spaced repetition with reminders
  • Works offline, free to start, fast and modern
  • You can chat with any flashcard when you’re unsure

If you’re serious about actually remembering what Duolingo teaches you, pairing it with Flashrecall is honestly one of the easiest upgrades you can make.

Try it while you’re still on your current streak:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Set up one small deck from your next Duolingo session and see how much more sticks after a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

What is active recall and how does it work?

Active recall is the process of actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Flashrecall forces proper active recall by making you think before revealing answers, then uses spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule.

Related Articles

Practice This With Free Flashcards

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Inside the FlashRecall app you can also create your own decks from images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, and text, then use spaced repetition to save your progress and study like top students.

Research References

The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.

Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380

Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice

Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378

Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts

Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19

Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence

Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968

Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning

Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27

Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies

Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58

Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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FlashRecall Team

FlashRecall Development Team

The FlashRecall Team is a group of working professionals and developers who are passionate about making effective study methods more accessible to students. We believe that evidence-based learning tec...

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