Learning vocabulary is a very important part of learning a language. The more words you know, the more you will be able to understand what you hear and read; and the better you will be able to say what you want to when speaking or writing.Every day you hear or read many new English words. You also find them in your dictionary when you are translating from your own language. You can’t possibly learn all these new words, so your first problem is to decide which ones to concentrate on. Here are some suggestions:
- learn the words that are important to the subjects you are studying
- learn the words that you read or hear again and again
- learn the words that you know you will often want to use yourself
- do not learn words that are rare or not usefu
Once you have chosen which words to learn, you next have to decide how you are going to learn them. Here are a few ideas:
- write the words in a notebook (with their translations or definitions)
- write the words and definitions on small cards
- say the words many times (if you have an electronic dictionary you can hear how the word is pronounced)
- put the words into different groups (you could use a graphic organiser)
- write them in a file for use with a computer program
- make associations (in pictures or with other words)
- ask someone to test you
- use the words in your own speaking or writing
The way you learned very many of the words in your own language was by meeting them in the books and magazines you read. But remember: to learn new words from reading you have to read A LOT!
Try the next links to improve your vocabulary:
