[Jd]

> I'm not a huge fan of using SRS for learning vocabulary. Extensive reading (and listening once you can) is a far better strategy

Can you explain your logic and how you measure success? FWIW I'm ~8 languages deep and started using SRS with my 5th language. For the last couple languages I've tracked my metrics extensively (i.e. words learned and retained per day). Also with the SRS tool I use I read sentences along side the words I'm learning so I get some context.

[AlchemistCamp]

There's a lot of L2 acquisition research on extensive reading and it's definitely worth checking out.

I covered some of my reasoning about the limitations of SRS in the 2nd half of this podcast: https://alchemist.camp/learning-machine/spaced-repetition-sy...

[Jd]

Seems like you pretty much contrast:

[1] SRS flashcard apps as an exclusive language learning system

[2] Extensive reading

While (2) is clearly better if those are your only choices, as you point out yourself SRS can easily be integrated into other curriculum or used as a supplemental tool. I'm not sure how many languages deep you are but I find getting through the first 1000-3000 words a real slog in the language and it is also quite hard to read in a language when you are at sub-3000 words unless you are reading especially prepared texts in a textbook for language learners.

My preferred method is to do the basic grammar of a language and first 2000 words as quickly as possible with a cram method and then work on speaking and transitioning from passive to active vocabulary. SRS is a nice tool, esp. if the SRS tool you are using also has included sentences in context (I mostly use learnwitholiver.com). Then usually I work to train for the state run test of the language that I'm studying at a reasonably high level.

[DiogenesKynikos]

One of your criticisms of spaced repetition is the difficulty of representing associations between words on flashcards. I agree that that's difficult (though you can mitigate it by including example sentences in your deck). However, I think that that criticism expects too much of spaced repetition. It's a very powerful technique for learning and holding onto new vocabulary, but it doesn't replace reading, listening and speaking. You really can't learn nuances of word meaning with flashcards alone, but you can build up and retain a large vocabulary. You can deepen your understanding of the subtleties of the language in other ways.