Why "One Picture, One Word" Works for Early Language Learning
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When it comes to teaching young children new words, in English or a second language, simplicity wins. That’s why our bilingual flashcards are designed with one picture and one word per card. It may look minimal, but it’s a method backed by science, psychology, and real-world experience.
In this post, we’ll explain why this works, how children learn multiple languages without translation, and why our Serbian and Greek flashcards don’t include English translations, by design.
One Picture, One Word: A Proven Method for Learning Vocabulary
Visual learning is powerful, especially for toddlers and pre-schoolers. The “one picture, one word” approach helps children:
➜ Focus on one word at a time
➜ Build clear associations between image and word
➜ Avoid distractions and information overload
✓ Supported by Research
A study by researchers at the University of Sussex found that when children are shown one image at a time (rather than multiple on a page), their word recall improves significantly.
👉 Read the study summary here
This method also aligns with the Picture Superiority Effect, which explains that we remember images better than words alone. When a picture is paired with a word, children are more likely to remember and understand it.
It’s also rooted in Dual Coding Theory, which says that information is better retained when it’s presented visually and verbally at the same time, which is exactly how our cards are designed.
Why Our Flashcards Don't Include Translations
Our flashcards are created for children aged 2 years and up who are learning both English and a heritage language (like Serbian or Greek).
✗ No translations? That’s intentional.
Children do not need to see the English translation to learn another language. In fact, translation can slow the process down.
According to Dr. Linda Espinosa (a specialist in early childhood bilingualism), children under 5 can learn two languages at once as if they were both first languages. No translation needed, just exposure and repetition.
👉 Read the research
In an English-speaking environment, children will naturally absorb English. What they don’t get as often is the heritage language, which is where focused resources like our flashcards come in.
By showing just the Serbian or Greek word with the picture, we give your child the same immersion experience they get with English every day, helping them develop true bilingualism from the start.
Why We Use Cyrillic for Serbian Alphabet Cards
Although Serbian uses both Cyrillic and Latin scripts, our Serbian alphabet flashcards use only Cyrillic. Why?
➜ To give children early exposure to Cyrillic, which they don’t typically see in Australia
➜ To avoid confusion between the two scripts while learning the alphabet
➜ To help preserve and pass down cultural language and writing
For our Serbian Fruit & Vegetable cards, we include both Cyrillic and Latin, still maintaining our clear one picture, one word layout.
Why We Use Transliteration for Greek Cards
Greek uses a unique alphabet that may be unfamiliar to many parents. That’s why we include transliteration (how the word sounds using Latin letters), not to “simplify,” but to:
➜ Help non-native Greek speakers pronounce words accurately
➜ Support families learning together, regardless of fluency
➜ Build confidence while preserving proper pronunciation
Why We Don’t Include Pronunciations on the Cards
When it comes to toddler language learning, pronunciation guides aren’t necessary, especially in phonetic languages like Serbian.
Unlike English, which has silent letters, inconsistent spelling patterns, and words that don’t always sound the way they look, Serbian is a highly phonetic language. Each letter corresponds directly to a sound. That means:
✓ What you see is what you say
✓ Children can pronounce words correctly just by hearing them spoken
✓ There’s no need for extra pronunciation breakdowns
In early childhood, learning comes through listening and repetition, not written instructions. Research shows that toddlers acquire language by absorbing sounds in context, not by studying rules. According to Dr. Patricia Kuhl, children learn best when words are used meaningfully around them, not when taught formally like older learners.
That’s why we keep it simple:
One picture. One word. Spoken out loud.
This natural exposure is all they need to develop correct pronunciation, especially in a language as regular and phonetic as Serbian.
English Words Are Phonetically Correct
Our English flashcards use words that are phonetically correct, meaning they sound the way they’re spoken. This supports:
➜ Letter-sound recognition
➜ Early reading skills
➜ Natural phonics learning
This consistency is especially useful when combined with our upcoming phonics-based activity books, helping kids transition from vocabulary to reading confidently.
Final Thoughts: Real Learning, No Gimmicks
We don’t overload our flashcards with translations, busy visuals, or complex information. Instead, we focus on what works:
✓ One image
✓ One word
✓ Clear, confident bilingual learning
Whether you’re raising a bilingual child in Serbian, Greek, or both, our flashcards give you the tools to teach naturally, confidently, and with research-backed design.
✨ Shop our bilingual flashcards today
Support your child’s language journey with tools that truly make a difference.
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