How to improve your vocabulary

Summary

Learning new English words can slow down over time, but there are effective ways to keep improving your vocabulary. This video highlights three key strategies: making learning fun by exploring topics and media you enjoy, keeping a word journal to record meanings, pronunciations, and example sentences, and actively using new words in speaking or writing. Incorporating apps and games can reinforce learning, while the principle 'use it or lose it' emphasizes consistent practice. By combining enjoyment, systematic recording, and practical usage, learners can overcome plateaus and continue to expand their vocabulary effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 It's normal for vocabulary growth to slow down after studying English for a while.
• 😀 Finding fun ways to learn is crucial to maintaining motivation and progress.
• 😀 Explore your interests and hobbies to discover new words related to topics you enjoy.
• 😀 Reading, listening to songs, or watching movies with subtitles are effective ways to learn new vocabulary.
• 😀 Word game apps can make learning new words more engaging and interactive.
• 😀 Keeping a word journal helps reinforce memory by recording meanings, pronunciation, and example sentences.
• 😀 Using dictionary apps with links or pictures can further aid in remembering new words.
• 😀 Regularly using new words in speech or writing is essential to retain them – 'use it or lose it.'
• 😀 You can practice new words even without conversation partners by writing in journals or on social media.
• 😀 Combining different learning methods like reading, listening, games, and writing helps improve vocabulary effectively.

Q & A

Why might someone feel they are not learning new English words as quickly as before?

This is completely normal as language learners progress; the initial rapid learning slows down over time, making it harder to acquire new vocabulary without targeted strategies.

What is the first method suggested to continue improving vocabulary?

The first method is to make learning fun by exploring subjects of personal interest, such as hobbies, reading articles, listening to songs, watching movies with subtitles, or playing word games.

How can hobbies help in learning new English words?

By researching topics related to hobbies, learners encounter vocabulary in context, which helps them understand, remember, and enjoy the learning process.

What are some alternative ways to learn vocabulary if someone doesn’t enjoy reading?

They can listen to songs and look up the lyrics, watch movies with subtitles, or play word game apps to make learning more engaging.

What is a word journal and how can it help learners?

A word journal is a notebook or phone app where learners write down new words, including their meanings, pronunciations, and example sentences. This reinforces memory and provides a reference for review.

How can technology be used to enhance vocabulary learning?

Learners can use dictionary apps to record new words, add links or images, and use word game apps to practice in a fun and interactive way.

Why is it important to 'use' new words after learning them?

Using new words in speaking or writing helps reinforce memory and ensures that the words become active parts of the learner's vocabulary instead of being forgotten.

What are some ways to use new words if a learner doesn’t have anyone to practice speaking with?

They can incorporate new words in writing, such as social media posts, personal journals, or online discussions, which still provides practice and reinforces retention.

How can word games contribute to vocabulary retention?

Word games challenge learners to recall and use new vocabulary in a fun context, reinforcing memory and providing repeated exposure to the words.

What is the main principle behind the phrase 'use it or lose it' in vocabulary learning?

It emphasizes that without actively using newly learned words, they are likely to be forgotten, so consistent practice in speaking or writing is crucial.

Why is it recommended to include example sentences in a word journal?

Example sentences help learners understand how a word is used in context, making it easier to remember and apply correctly in real communication.

How can learners make vocabulary learning more personalized and effective?

By focusing on topics of personal interest, using technology creatively, keeping a word journal, playing games, and practicing in real-life contexts, learners can make the process engaging and memorable.