Problem: Spaced repetition as a principle for effective learning is not controversial. It has been validated in the literature through well-documented research studies for decades, yet few textbooks in any field of study have adopted this method, and perhaps even fewer instructors use it in the classroom. Chances are high many have never heard of it. Why has such a well-established method, and one so well suited to vocabulary memorization, been so ignored by educators, including Arabic language instructors? The question is especially pertinent when we consider the challenge Arabic learners face in memorizing a sufficiently large vocabulary to reach fluency in the language. Thesis: Spaced repetition software (SRS) applies the principle of spaced repetition to a computer-based flashcard program that optimizes the intervals at which students review their learning material. This paper seeks to answer why such programs, which have existed since at least 1987, are not routinely a part of foreign language courses, and it outlines a method of implementing SRS for vocabulary acquisition in college-level Arabic courses. Methods: While the validity of SRS is well documented, its practical application in the Arabic language classroom is not. I apply this proven technique to Arabic vocabulary acquisition in college-level courses and recommend a practical plan for instructors to implement it in their classrooms. I also highlight my own successes with this approach through a comparison of test and quiz results from a number of my classes both before and after implementing SRS, and an analysis of questionnaires that demonstrate students’ attitudes toward SRS. Finally, I address some of the challenges that arise with SRS, offer suggestions for boosting students’ success, and recommend techniques to motivate them. Implications: The literature, test results and students’ own experiences all point to SRS as one of the best methods for helping students acquire and retain a sufficiently large Arabic vocabulary to succeed both in their language studies, and in their lives as Arabic speakers. A surprising benefit of SRS is that as it increases vocabulary retention, it decreases time spent studying, thus freeing students to engage in applied language learning.