Tips for Vocabulary

[nemo]

hi everybody......i like to discuss about vocabulary....i still remember my first time in improving my english.......so terrible.....my vocabulary is so weak.......but i told myself it is just the beginning.......of course it is hard.....

So....what i do is....i read a lot of english books....then i listed any words that i don't know the meaning is.......and look at my dictionary.......i have more than 20 words a day because i 'm bookworm.

Besides that, i read my dictionary in my leisure time, watching english programmes and listening to english songs................it helps me a lot......

That's all.......good bye

[Sontung]

So....what i do is....i read a lot of english books....then i listed any words that i don't know the meaning is.......and look at my dictionary.......i have more than 20 words a day because i 'm bookworm.

Besides that, i read my dictionary in my leisure time, watching english programmes and listening to english songs................it helps me a lot......

you learn very hard, I wish doing like that

[Rogeryan]

Pirate, how can u expand yer E. vocabulary if u merely learn 1-5 new words a day? Personally I learn more than 20 words a day but I forget 15 ones the day after. And after a week I just rem. only 1 word

Ha ha, the more you learn, the more you forget!!!

5 is a good number to learn daily and the important thing is how long you keep it going on. 1 week, 1 month or 1 year? 1 week is easy, 1 month is possible but 1 year (=365 days) is a terribly great effort

It's not how many words you have learnt, it's how many words you can remember (meaning and using), then learn them well! Make sentences, think of situation where you find the new words and imagine when you yourself can use them.

Absolutely...Can we find the better way to keep them going on?Ohterwise,the word we had learnt will be out of our brain after several years.It's too bad.

[KuteSophia]

I think reading only helps improve vocabulary if you note down the new words while you read and take sometimes to look back the noted words in the days after. Reading without noting down new words doesn't enrich your vocab.
Expand vocabulary through learning root word, affixes (suffixes and prefixes)is also a good way, but it's a little bit difficult at first. To me, it's not really helpful, ‘cause it's so boring. I have to study that since it is in my syllabus.
To me, the most effective way is reading the article on the things i interested in, or my work related to. It helps me remember better.

[robertjr.]

my problem is i do not know how to use the vocabulary in grammar construction and can you help me how to use them in a sentence.

[Bambang]

Memorising some words in every single day doesn't work to me.

Psychologically speaking, we'll learn something better if we enjoy the lesson.

The concept is the same when we are learning vocabulary.

If we are not interested in the words and we still push ourselves to memorise them, then sooner or later the words will be out of our minds.

Contrastly, when we are curious about a word and the word interests us, then we'll be happier to look it up in our dictionaries. And it will be in our mind for a long time or maybe it will even be in our memory permanently.

So, I enrich my vocabulary by looking them up in my dictionaries when I am curious about the words.


The words I look up are from the articles I read or the English programs I listened.

The point is : Reading and watching, then find some words that interest you or make you curious.

That helps me a lot.

Supernaturally speaking all EC members are curious people, especially in learning English.

[Tora]

the advice I was given by my former English teacher:
- if you have a note-book for vocabulary, make sure you write an English word on the right and the definition in your language (or the description in English) on the left - it helps to memorize new words

- work with a new word, find synonyms, write out several sentences including new words, phrases and leave it for two weeks time, then revise it and do it after a month time once again, pretty long, but words do really keep in mind

[iamvitaly]

I realy like to improve my vocabulary. I have an interesting book about english idioms and phrasal verbs and everyday learn 15-20 new words and phrases. After I create an article with new words (I try to use the most of them), and repeat words helps me special sowtware, which test me in a different kinds. It's my way.

[Andrianna]

I have a program that appears on the desktop every 20 minutes during my work day. It offers to write the translation of different words. It helps me very much.

[VeKa]

and how can I study english spiking language??? and if you seems of my mistakes,please tell me :)

[fabulous]

'alo,

i used to enrich and enhance my vocabulary is jot down the strange word whenever or wherever i encountered from reading articles or story books. later on, i find for the meaning of those word. that is very effective way if you keep reading repeatedly.

however, if you write down one or two useful example sentences for the word you are finding, it might help you imprint those word.
this way really help me. it does worked!

hope it might be a help you, brilliant!

[faithfulman]

it's a very intelligent mean thank u

[ILANA]

hello...how can learn english words easily?

I think it depens on your pimary modality. For example, I have good visual memery and I should look at words, write and repeat them and give english explaination for each. And a perfect way of learning new words it is assosiation each one in your native language, but it's not easy.

[forum]

The best way to learn vocabulary is to use it! That means you need to READ, WRITE, LISTEN and TALK!!

You will find that if you do this with NATIVE English material, you will find a lot of USEFUL words to learn. I think this way is much better than learning from a vocabulary book.

I know in my experience, when I learned a new word by EXPERIENCING it, I would REMEMBER it! By experiencing it, I mean:
[1] meeting the word in a real language situation
[2] not knowing what it means
[3] finding out the meaning (maybe with a dictionary or from a friend)
[4] then using the word.

If you are always READING, WRITING, LISTENING and SPEAKING English as much as possible, your vocabulary will grow and grow and GROW!

[Sunnypk]

The best way to learn vocabulary is to use it! That means you need to READ, WRITE, LISTEN and TALK!!

You will find that if you do this with NATIVE English material, you will find a lot of USEFUL words to learn. I think this way is much better than learning from a vocabulary book.

I know in my experience, when I learned a new word by EXPERIENCING it, I would REMEMBER it! By experiencing it, I mean:
[1] meeting the word in a real language situation
[2] not knowing what it means
[3] finding out the meaning (maybe with a dictionary or from a friend)
[4] then using the word.

If you are always READING, WRITING, LISTENING and SPEAKING English as much as possible, your vocabulary will grow and grow and GROW!

It has great sound my ideas were as well something like yours one

Do u know what do I utilize other implement to improve my vocabulary, beside all I have installed some English dictionaries in my computer chiefly I use to make the best of finding out many interesting words and use it in speaking with my friends

[awrang]

Hello everyone to increase your vocabluray follow this:

1. Learn 6 new words related to the same subject per day
2. Read these 6 words 50 times per day with yourself
3. Write/rewrite them on a peace of paper 50 times per day
4. After one week read/write all of your words again three/four times that day

Trust me you will have a very powerful vocabulary after several months....
when you have good vocabulary you will speak,read and understand a lot more..

[forum]

Great advice!
I had a friend who practiced new words everytime he walked through a door...Whenever he walked through a door, he would think about the word and try to make a sentence in his head. He said he learned 50 words a week doing this. Amazing!

[echho]

hi my friends
I think to learn vocabulary is the most difficult the others.
2 days ago my friend and I memorised some phrasal verbs. sometimes it could be funny. I think you had better study with your friends. so you aren't bored.
finally I remember most of them.
however, twice a day you shoul read the list of vocabulary. It is very helpful for you.

[PrinnySquad]

My First Post:
This is an awesome website. I love the Tips for Learning English series. Even the post section has an amazing spell-check function built-in. Talk about Awesomeness

I just love words (a.k.a Vocabs), and I do have this ambitious dream of one day being able to use English to communicate just like a Native Speaker. I do recognize the importance of vocabulary and its usage. Vocabulary is essential in reading and writing English. I would love to get some practice on this Website everyday, like posting my rants up here and get some help from the forum members . This will be one of my daily activities.

I am currently on a plan of extending my vocabulary by following some of the methods posted in couple hundreds posts above(That's quite a long read I know). There will be time you will see my awkward word usage, sometimes broken sentences but please be patient and help me achieve my dream.

I also want to share my own method: (just for reference but creating your own method is the best way)
Get some Vocabulary books, believe me, those author know what they are talking about. Study at least 10 words per day. Make sentences, make jokes, and learn the right way of using words. And typing up Articles or short stories that you like.
I 've been following this schedule on and off for sometimes now but I think it helps.
Thank you for sharing and all the help, people.

P/S: Where should I post my rants and article to get help

[Jads]

Hi, is it a good start for english-beginner to learn those sentence connector words as their vocab homework?
I somehow think if they learn it well it would be great, as they can use it to write stories or composition,would it be the case for your'all too?

[rehman]

the technique to accumulate vacuballary only comes through reading and reading...... at least you must read a newspaper daily because with reading the paper the words will be repeated again and again..... yeah, but dont forget to keep a weighty dictionary whenever you see a difficult word must check it ..... sometime we feel bothering to check the word from dictionary we go ahead ignoring it....... never do that..... the second technique which comes in my mind that make yourself habbitual of reading novel or story books these can keep refresh your vacuballry....

[Cossette]

For me, reading is the best method to increase vocabulary. I keep a vocabulary notebook wherein I can list down the new words with its definition and derivation. Moreover, I write down 3 sentences using the word. Mastering the word by using it in your speech would be very effective.

[Gerima]

i agree that by reading we learn more words. the words, learnt in the context, are remembered much better. So that you know the usage of the word.

[catcrack]

There is a good site which can help in increasing vocabulary.its quiet useful and fun to use.
http://www.vocabularylearningresources.net/

[englishhelps]

During our training, we usually have our "word for the day". Make an effort to study a new word everyday. You can study what it means and how it's pronounced. Then make sure that at the end of the day, you know it by heart.

[englishhelps]

If you hear a new word, write it down so you can research on it later on! Make sure you know what it means and how you can use it in a sentence. A word a day keeps the grammar police away! :)

[rando]

Tamaneden,

For me, one of the best and basic way of improving your vocabulary is through reading and listing down all the difficult and new words that you encounter while reading. You can also try doing word games, its not only vocabulary enriching but also fun to do. If you find it hard remembering difficult words then you can try associating these words with pictures. Actually there are a lot of ways, it is up to you which suits you best. As for vocabulary software that you are looking for, I recommend you try visiting www·vocabularysoftware·net since I stumbled upon it on the internet while looking for real cool word games softwares. You can find not only software for word games but also for vocabulary and spelling. Have fun!

[englishhelps]

^Nice suggestions! It's always fun and effective to learn through games especially if you're in a group. It makes learning more interactive.

[englishhelps]

A good game to play is charades. You can use english movie titles and song titles as the criteria.

[englishhelps]

You can also widen your vocabulary by playing a game like scrabble. Just make sure you have a dictionary at hand!