How to Learn English Vocabulary to Become a Better English Speaker

Summary

In this engaging Deep English lesson, Teela shares three effective strategies for learning and remembering new vocabulary. She emphasizes the importance of relevance, suggesting learners connect new words to their personal goals and daily life. Teela advises against overwhelming oneself with too many words at once, recommending a manageable 10-15 words daily to maintain a relaxed learning state. Her standout tip involves using word associations and crafting stories, which leverages the power of narrative to enhance memorability and emotional engagement, making vocabulary learning more enjoyable and efficient.

Takeaways

• 📚 The first tip is to make new vocabulary relevant to your life for easier learning.
• 💡 Reconnect with your original motivation for learning English to find practical vocabulary.
• 🤔 Imagine scenarios where you would use English and identify the words you need to learn in those situations.
• 🚫 Avoid the stress of trying to memorize a large number of words daily; aim for a more manageable number like 10-15 words.
• 🧘‍♂️ Stay relaxed when learning new words to keep the brain functioning optimally.
• 📖 Use word associations and stories to make learning new vocabulary more memorable and engaging.
• 🔗 Create stories that link new words with familiar ones, like associating 'cuddle' with 'puddle'.
• 🕵️‍♂️ For words like 'agenda', create a narrative involving a secret agent to help remember its meaning.
• 🌳 Use mnemonic devices with words that sound similar, such as 'elementary' and 'lemon tree', to craft memorable stories.
• 🎭 Engage your emotions and body in the learning process by using stories that are interesting and meaningful.
• 🔗 Subscribe to Deep English for free lessons that utilize storytelling to enhance vocabulary learning.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the lesson presented by Teela in the transcript?

The main topic of the lesson is learning and remembering new vocabulary in English.

What is Teela's first tip for learning new vocabulary?

Teela's first tip is to make the new information relevant to one's life, as it's easier to learn new English words when they are useful in one's own life.

How does Teela suggest reconnecting with the reason for learning English?

Teela suggests taking a moment to think about why one originally wanted to learn English and then imagining oneself in that context to identify the vocabulary needed for those situations.

What is the second tip Teela provides for learning vocabulary?

The second tip is not to stress oneself by trying to memorize a large number of words daily, but rather to set a manageable goal, such as learning 10 to 15 words a day.

Why is it not recommended to try to memorize too many words at once according to Teela?

Memorizing too many words at once can stress the nervous system, which in turn stresses the brain and can cause the parts of the brain responsible for learning to shut down.

What is Teela's third and best tip for learning new vocabulary?

Teela's third tip is to use word associations, particularly through storytelling, as it gives the brain something to latch onto and makes learning easier.

Can you provide an example of a word association story from the transcript?

One example is the story about two snowmen who fell in love and cuddled, melting into a puddle of love, which helps remember the word 'cuddle'.

How does Teela suggest remembering the word 'agenda'?

Teela suggests associating 'agenda' with 'agent' and creating a story about a secret agent keeping the details of the agenda secret until a meeting.

What is the significance of using stories when learning new vocabulary according to Teela?

Using stories engages emotions and the whole body, making the learning process more effective as it's not just intellectual but also emotional and physical.

How does Teela encourage viewers to access more free lessons from Deep English?

Teela encourages viewers to subscribe below the video or click on the provided link to find and access free lessons at the end of the video.

What are the three main ways Teela suggests to remember vocabulary as summarized at the end of the lesson?

The three main ways are: 1) Remembering why you wanted to learn English and making new vocabulary relevant to your life, 2) Not stressing out by trying to learn too many new words, and 3) Learning new words in story form.