Repetition, retrieval, and spaced practice

Abstract

Repetition, retrieval, and spaced practice refer to three linked methods for practicing a wide range of learning tasks, including those related to the learning of second languages (L2s). These methods have been interpreted and conceptualized broadly by researchers in recent years and have been used to practice a broad spectrum of activities, including communicative tasks. For example, repetition can refer to whether a learner repeats an activity or task after having completed it. Alternatively, it can refer to frequency effects, that is, how often individual constructions, such as vocabulary items, repeat in the input. Retrieval practice is a subtype of repetition practice that involves recalling previously learned information from memory. Spaced practice involves how the repetitions are distributed (e.g., one hour, one day, and one week between repetitions) and how the distribution influences learning and retention. This entry provides an overview of the theory and research into repetition, retrieval, and spaced practice.