How to learn the english word

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Learning a foreign language isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to vocabulary. (I’ve been studying Japanese for years and still have trouble remembering words!) Luckily, there are many ways you can learn English vocabulary—and some of them are even a little fun!

In this guide, we go over the top five methods you can use to learn English words and give you a few tips on how to find English words to study.

Feature image: Nicolas Raymond/freestock.ca

Method 1: Make Flashcards

One of the most popular (and arguably best) ways to learn English vocabulary is to use flashcards. Each flashcard will have one English word written on the front and the word’s translation or definition on the back.

To study them, you’ll look at one side of a card and say the word on it in the opposite language before you look at the other side of the card (so if you were looking at the English side, for example, you’d say the word in your native language).

Flashcards are excellent resources because they help you memorize vocabulary words both quickly and effectively. They’re also customizable and reusable. Both paper and digital cards are available, and you can make your own cards, buy a pre-made deck, or download a deck online.

Pros

  • Flashcards are easy to make. If you’re making paper cards, all you need are note cards (or small pieces of paper), a pencil or pen, and a list of the words you want to study. For digital cards, all you need is a computer and some software or a website to make them with.
  • They’re interactive, especially if you make them yourself. With paper flashcards, you must write down all of the words you want to study as well as physically thumb through the cards, helping you concentrate on what each word means.
  • Flashcard decks are easy to expand if you find new vocabulary you want to study. All you need to do is make a new flashcard and then add it to your deck—that’s it!
  • They’re easy to randomize. Mixing up the order in which you study is essential to ensuring that you fully understand the meanings of the words you’re learning.

Cons

  • Making flashcards is time consuming. Though not particularly difficult to make, flashcards can take a long time to create (regardless of whether you’re making paper or digital cards). Therefore, make sure you have ample time to set aside when making them.
  • Paper flashcards are bulky and take up a lot of space. As a result, they’re often difficult to take places and use for on-the-go reviewing. If you’re hoping to brush up on your English vocabulary at places other than home, consider bringing only some of your cards with you or using a more compact resource such as a list (see method 2 below).

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How to Use This Method Effectively

Flashcards must be used in specific ways in order to be effective for English-language learning. These methods differ depending on whether you’re studying with paper or digital flashcards.

Paper Flashcards

Paper flashcards are best for those who prefer more traditional study methods and want a break from computers and smartphones.

You can use any blank note cards to make your flashcards. Once you have some, start making your cards: with each card, write an English word (spelled correctly!) on the front and its translation in your native language (or an image of the word) on the back. You may also include on the front the word’s part of speech and/or a sample English sentence.

When finished, begin studying your flashcards using the «waterfall» method. With this method, you’ll study cards in subsets (smaller stacks of cards) and get to review harder English words more often than words you already know.

We explain the waterfall method in more detail in our guide to TOEFL vocabulary flashcards. However, to summarize briefly, here’s how it works:

#1: Go through all of your flashcards and make two piles: a «Know It» pile (with words you know) and a «Struggled» pile (with words you don’t know). Put the «Struggled» pile to the right of the «Know It» pile:

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#2: Next, go through the cards in your «Struggled» pile one at a time. As you do this, make a second «Know It» pile for words you know (put this pile to the right of your original «Know It» pile). For words you don’t know, put them back in your «Struggled» pile.

#3: Continue this process of going through your «Struggled» pile and making new «Know It» piles until you only have four to five cards left in your «Struggled» pile. Here’s what your cards should look like:

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#4: Now, work your way back up your «waterfall» of cards, starting with your «Struggled» pile. Go through this stack of cards until you know all of the words in it. You might have to go through it several times before you can remember all of the words.

#5: Combine the «Struggled» pile with the «Know It» pile directly to the left of it. Now, you’ll go through all of the words in both piles (combined as one) until you know all of these words.

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#6: Repeat step 5 until you’ve gone through all of the cards in your deck, from right to left. You should now know the meanings of all of the English words on your flashcards!

Digital Flashcards

Some people (myself included!) prefer studying foreign languages with digital, or computerized, flashcards. These types of flashcards are accessible through software applications, websites, and/or apps.

While there are many free flashcard-making websites and programs available, my personal favorites are Anki and Memrise.

Anki is a free downloadable software through which you can make your own flashcards or download pre-made decks submitted by users. It uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to show you difficult cards more often—similar to the waterfall method described above—making it convenient and easy to use.

Memrise, on the other hand, is a free language-learning website that offers tons of pre-made decks. It’s a little flashier and more game-like than Anki, so if you’d prefer a more «fun» way to learn English words, this is a great website (and app!) to try out.

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Method 2: Make a Study List

Another helpful method is to make a list of all of the English-vocabulary words you want to learn. A list is different from flashcards in that it has all of the words you need to know in one place (instead of on separate cards). If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of using note cards, a study list is a solid option.

Pros

  • The biggest benefit is that lists are easy to expand as you come across new words you want to know. For example, if you saw an English word you didn’t know on a sign at a restaurant, you can simply take out your list and write it down.
  • You can use your list as a base for other study methods. Lists are helpful resources for identifying specific words to put on flashcards and use in vocabulary quizzes (see method 4).
  • A list is less bulky than flashcards. With a list, you can keep track of dozens of words on a single sheet of paper, taking up far less space than hundreds of flashcards.
  • It’s easy to make. All you need to do is write out each word, its part of speech (optional), and its meaning in your native language—nothing more!

Cons

  • They’re pretty tedious and boring to work with. Unlike flashcards, which are highly interactive (you can make cards, flip through them, shuffle them, etc.), lists are static resources with few stimulating features.
  • They make it difficult to randomize words. You’ll learn English words faster by sporadically mixing up the order in which you study them, but it’s a challenge to randomize words on lists since you can’t physically rearrange them as you can with flashcards.

How to Use This Method Effectively

Write your English words on the left side of a piece of paper, from top to bottom. I suggest numbering the words and adding their parts of speech, too (this is helpful because it teaches you how to use the words).

Then, on the right side of the paper, write the translation of each word in your native language (again, from top to bottom so that each translation aligns horizontally with its English equivalent). Here’s an example:

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When you’re ready to start studying, get a separate sheet of paper (or your hand) to cover up the words on the right. You’ll then move this sheet down as you read and define each English word on the left. Make sure to say each word aloud in English before translating it into your native language.

Once you’ve defined a word, move your sheet of paper down to check that you’ve translated it correctly:

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As you go through your list, consider marking any words you’re having trouble remembering. This way you’ll know right away which words you need to spend a little more time on than others.

Here are some additional ways you can use your list to learn English vocabulary:

  • Study words in reverse. With this method, you’ll start at the bottom of your list and reveal words one at a time by moving your sheet up instead of down. This prevents you from simply memorizing the list in one particular order.
  • Cover up the English side so that you must read the words in your native language and then translate them into English. Studying like this ensures you can come up with English equivalents for words all on your own.

These are both great methods to use after you’ve used the main method described above and are more familiar with the English vocabulary on your list.

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Method 3: Write Out Words Repeatedly

If you want to practice spelling English words and like doing something physical as you study, writing out words is a solid option to try. With this method, you’ll write out each English word several times as you say it aloud.

If you’ve taken English courses in the past, you’ve probably had homework similar to this (I had to write out new words all the time for Japanese class in junior high and high school!). Although rote memorization isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it can still be a highly effective way to learn English words.

Pros

  • It’s interactive. Unlike flashcards and lists, which you merely look at to study, you’re always doing something when writing out words. If you’re the type who gets easily antsy and likes having something to do with your hands as you study, this is a good method to try.
  • It helps you remember how to spell words. Flashcards and lists mainly teach you what a word means, but writing out a word (rather than looking at it briefly) makes it far easier to remember how it’s spelled.

Cons

  • Writing out words repeatedly can feel monotonous. Despite being an effective method, rote memorization isn’t a particularly fun way to learn a language and gets tiresome fast.
  • You can easily lose focus on a word as you write it again and again. To truly benefit from this method, you need to focus on what each word means and how it’s spelled. Unfortunately, the repetitive motions make it easy to fall into a zombie-like stupor.

How to Use This Method Effectively

The best way to write out words is to have a set number of times you’re going to write them out. Usually, 10 to 20 times is sufficient. Just make sure you’re actively thinking about each word as you write it out: look at the letters and how they’re arranged, pronounce it, and then define it.

I find that it’s helpful to note the translation of each word (in your native language) above your repetitions so that you don’t forget the meanings of any words and can more readily make associations between words in your language and in English.

Finally, I strongly suggest using this method with one of the two methods above (flashcards or a study list) to keep you from getting bored with your studies. Personally, I think the flashcard method is better as it’s more fun and doesn’t require you to make another long list of words.

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Method 4: Take Vocabulary Quizzes

If you’re tired of flashcards and lists, vocabulary quizzes are a great way to test what you’ve learned and ensure you truly understand the meanings of English words.

Many English-word quizzes are available for free online. While some are traditional tests, others are more game-like; for example, you might find a matching game in which you have to match English words with their meanings (also in English!).

You can also make your own vocabulary quizzes using any of the resources above (flashcards, lists, etc.).

Pros

  • They check your English progress by testing what you’ve learned. Quizzes let you see whether you truly know the English words you’ve studied and can use them fluently. If you fail a quiz, you’ll know exactly which words to work on more.
  • Most online vocabulary quizzes are free. You can find tons of free, high-quality English-language quizzes and games on websites geared toward students, ESL learners, and general language learners.

Cons

  • You can’t really learn words from scratch using quizzes alone. In other words, you’ll need to combine quizzes with one or more of the methods above so you can learn English vocabulary before testing out what you know.
  • Some online vocabulary quizzes aren’t super high quality, so make sure you’re choosing ones that have words you are familiar with and no glitches or inaccuracies.

How to Use This Method Effectively

You have two options when it comes to English-vocabulary quizzes: look for pre-made quizzes online, or make your own.

Online Quizzes

If looking for quizzes online, I recommend starting with popular learning websites.

One option is Free Rice, whose «English Vocabulary» mode tests your knowledge of various high-level English words. Each question gives you one English word and four possible synonyms; the answer choices are also in English, so you’ll need to have a high English level in order to do well. For each question you get right, Free Rice donates 10 grains of rice to help end world hunger. So this is an excellent resource to use if you like the idea of helping others as you study!

Quizlet and Cram are two other websites you can use for free. Both offer flashcards, vocabulary lists, quizzes, and games. All you do is choose an English-vocabulary deck (or make your own) and then test yourself using the site’s «Test» feature.

Both websites’ «Test» features are similar to an actual language test: you get a variety of question types, from fill-in-the-blank and matching to multiple choice and true or false. With Cram, however, you can also choose how the system grades your answers. For example, you can make it so you don’t lose any points for errors in punctuation or capitalization.

Making Your Own Quizzes

The best way to make your own English-vocabulary quiz is to use flashcards (see method 1). With flashcards, you can easily randomize the words you’ll get and can’t predict which words will come up.

To make a quiz, get out a sheet of paper and number it 1-20 (or however many questions you want to have). Then, choose a flashcard at random. On your paper, write down the English word shown and (without flipping the card over) its translation or meaning in your native language.

Don’t check your answers right away by flipping the cards over—rather, wait until you’ve finished your entire quiz and then flip over the flashcards to score your test.

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Method 5: Use Vocabulary Words in Conversation and Writing

Although the methods above are extremely useful for memorizing English words, you’ll never retain the words you learn unless you actually use them in conversation and writing. In short, context is key!

Pros

  • You’ll learn more quickly how to use and say words you’ve studied. Although you should always say words aloud when you first learn them, using them in conversation (especially with native English speakers) is by far the best way to ensure you’re actually pronouncing and using them correctly.
  • You’ll remember words better by using them in sentences, so always look for opportunities to use words you learn in both conversation and writing.
  • You can get feedback when conversing with or writing to native English speakers. If you’re not sure whether you’re using a word correctly, you can ask others to give you feedback or explain how they themselves use specific words in English.

Cons

  • It’s not always easy to find people to use English with. If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, native speakers can be hard to find, making it difficult to actively use the words you learn in conversation and writing.
  • You need someone to check that you’re using the words correctly. If you’re using a word in writing, for example, but aren’t sure whether you’re using it correctly, you’ll need to ask a native speaker to check it for you. This can be tough to do, though, if you don’t have access to any native speakers.
  • It can be intimidating to use new words with others. When speaking another language, we tend to rely on using only the words we know so we can avoid making any obvious mistakes. Unfortunately, this fear can ultimately hinder your ability to learn new words and use them with confidence.

How to Use This Method Effectively

If you’d like to use new English words in conversation, you’ll first need to find native English speakers or other English-language learners to practice speaking with. If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, try looking for English-language groups or clubs you can join in your area. Meetup, for example, is a handy website you can use to search for language groups around you (you can even create one yourself!).

Another option for English-speaking practice is to pay for video chat language lessons. Fees vary depending on the company you use and how many hours you want to practice. Some of the best websites to try include Live Lingua, Verbalplanet, and italki.

But what about writing in English? If you want to practice using words in writing, start keeping a journal and then have other people (preferably native English speakers) read your work to check that you’re correctly using new vocabulary.

My personal recommendation is a free website called Lang-8 on which you write various posts (such as journal entries, questions, stories, etc.) in your target language. Once you make a post, native English speakers then correct your entries and offer feedback. I’ve used this website many times before while studying Japanese, and it’s always been an extremely helpful resource!

You can also find a pen pal to write to in English—ideally, one who is a native English speaker and will write to you in your native language in return. This way you can have someone you know correct your English as you also correct his or her writing in your language!

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How to Find English Vocabulary to Study: 3 Options

Now that we’ve given you a handful of methods you can use for learning English vocabulary, here are a few tips on where to actually find new English words to study.

#1: Write Down Words You Hear and Read

This is perhaps one of the most practical methods for learning English vocabulary, and one I often used while living in Japan. Basically, you’ll keep a running list of any unfamiliar English words you hear or read in both your day-to-day life and studies.

For listening, some of the best resources to use for finding new words are as follows:

  • Everyday conversation: Ideally, you’ll converse mostly with native English speakers; that said, it’s better to practice speaking with other English-language learners than with nobody at all!
  • English movies and TV shows: Avoid turning on the subtitles for your native language. Instead, if you’re having trouble picking out key words, turn on the English subtitles; this will help you identify new words more quickly and let you see how they’re spelled.
  • English podcasts: Start by browsing this excellent list of English podcasts for language learners. Then, find the ones that sound most interesting to you and start listening!
  • YouTube: Find English videos on topics you’re interested in (and turn on English subtitles if needed).

For reading, try looking for new English words to practice in these resources:

  • Newspapers: There are tons of high-quality English-language newspapers online. Intermediate speakers can start with easier English-news websites such as VOA Learning English and BBC Learning English, whereas advanced learners can dive right into popular news outlets such as CNN and The New York Times.
  • Websites: Look for websites and blogs dealing with any topic of interest to you. I suggest looking for prominent websites with lots of followers to ensure that the English they use is high quality.
  • Books and stories: What better way to learn new words than through your favorite fairy tales? Intermediate learners can start with children’s books and short stories, while advanced learners can jump to novellas and novels. Graphic novels are also excellent resources!

Once you’ve found vocabulary words you want to study, open a Word document on your computer and start making a list. You can then add words to this list whenever you come across ones you don’t know in your listening and reading practice.

Make sure to include most or all of the following elements on your vocabulary list:

  • The word in English (spelled correctly!)
  • Its part of speech
  • The translation/meaning of the word in your native language
  • An example sentence using the word

You can then use this list as your primary study list or to help you make flashcards and quizzes.

#2: Look for Free Word Lists Online

Another helpful option is to seek out pre-made English word lists. Waiting to hear or read new English vocabulary isn’t always practical for language learners, but you can luckily find many free English-word lists online using the websites mentioned above (e.g., Quizlet, Cram, Memrise, etc.).

If you want to study upper-level academic vocabulary, try looking specifically for vocabulary lists targeting popular college-admission tests, such as the TOEFL, GRE, SAT, and ACT. At PrepScholar, we’ve gathered all high-frequency words for these exams and even created free downloadable flashcards for the TOEFL and GRE.

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#3: Use a Textbook

If you like having structure in your vocabulary studies, consider buying an English-language textbook or workbook. These books should give you plenty of new vocabulary words to study as well as lots of relevant exercises to help you memorize and retain them. Oftentimes, textbooks come with a built-in dictionary, too!

Make sure you’re choosing a book that’s highly reviewed and geared toward your English level. You can also try looking at books that specifically target the TOEFL. Unfortunately, English-language textbooks cater mostly to beginner and intermediate learners, so if you’re an advanced English speaker, you’ll likely benefit more from the two options above.

There are many different ways to learn English vocabulary, from rote memorization and repetition to flashcards and quizzes. But in the end, it’s up to you to figure out which methods will work best for your learning style.

Here are some final pieces of advice to remember when studying English vocabulary:

  • Don’t try to memorize every single word. English is believed to have the most words of any language, and I guarantee you won’t be able to learn all of them (even native English speakers don’t know every word!). Therefore, focus on memorizing the words you encounter most often. For everything else, use a dictionary!
  • Ask for help if you get stuck. If you can’t remember the meaning of a particular word and don’t have a dictionary on hand, don’t be afraid to ask someone to define it for you. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, and it’s certainly nothing to feel embarrassed about!
  • Make studying English a habit. For a lot of people, it can be hard to find time to study English. But you’ll need a routine if you want to learn English words and actually remember them, so try to set aside at least 30 minutes every day to go through your study materials.

Good luck with your English studies!

What’s Next?

Need English-vocabulary words to study? Take a look at our list of 300+ high-frequency TOEFL words today! We also have created a free TOEFL vocabulary flashcards PDF here.

Want more tips on how to learn English? Start with our guide to learning English and figuring out your language goals. Then, move on to our article on the best English-language games you can play, with others or by yourself!

Planning to take the TOEFL? Then you’ll definitely want to read our expert tips on how to prepare for this tricky English test.

Taking the TOEFL and need to boost your score? We have the world’s leading TOEFL course.

Built by world-class instructors from Harvard and MIT, our TOEFL course offers individual review, interactive lessons, and realistic online practice, at an affordable price! It’s the fastest way to get your target TOEFL score. And the best part? You can try it out for 5 days absolutely free of charge!

Try It Today!

Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!

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About the Author

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

What words should be learned first

Take as a basis high-frequency words and your area of ​​interest. High-frequency should be understood as the necessary vocabulary that is used by all people without exception. The area of ​​interest is largely determined by the goals of learning the language – profession, hobbies, favorite topics of conversation. Do not strive to learn all words without exception – 50% of them are not used even by the English, you will waste your brain and waste time. Where to find high-frequency vocabulary:

  • Free online courses have a selection of high-frequency words by topic, such as “clothing,” “food,” “family,” “home,” and so on.
  • When you feel savvy enough, skip to The Oxford 3000 for the most comprehensive list of high-frequency words.
  • Read literature and news in an adapted language and compose your own vocabulary. Such sources are aimed at English learners, therefore all unpopular words in them are replaced with simpler and more understandable synonyms.

You should look for words for your area of ​​interest yourself. The easiest way is to watch TV series on a suitable topic in English (you can use Russian subtitles, but then watching will not be a pleasure).

In addition, it is worth looking for articles, reviews and forums related to your profession or related to your hobby. Do not forget about live communication – communicate more with foreigners in chats, this will help to master not only thematic, but also slang words.

Verbs and stable phrases

According to statistics, the vocabulary of most beginners is lacking in verbs, and useful verbs. The useful ones include those that we most often use in speech. It is appropriate here to do the exercise developed by Gina Caro as often as possible. Its essence is as follows: you need to look around as often as possible and describe everything that you see using verbs. The proposal should be structured as follows: “This is a thing that …”. That is, you get something like: “This is the chair on which I sit.” The verb “sit” is useful and important to remember.

It is also worth remembering stable phrases. Take a photo – take a photo, a flat tire – a flat tire and so on. It is difficult to understand the logic of the formation of these expressions in the early stages, it is easier to remember them. To make it easier for yourself, use strong phrases in context. By the way, answering the question of how to quickly memorize English words and expressions, the polyglot Kato Lomb recommended memorizing such phrases in the same form in which you will use them – in the 1st person singular.

Ways to learn words quickly and a lot

The association technique is very simple. For each English word or concept, a similar sounding Russian word is selected: lemon – lemon, nose – nose, mandarin – tangerine or mandarin. Our language even has words borrowed from foreign speech, and they have been familiar to you for a long time: airport – airport, recruit – recruit, recruit, autobus – bus, aviation – aviation. Some neologisms also took English terms as a basis: browser, Internet, monitor, office, printer.

Therefore, you will always find something to associate with those concepts that you have to learn. In addition, a large number of English signs, as in Russian, consist of two bases:

  • Thunderstorm – thunderstorm: thunder – thunder storm – storm, storm (storm with thunder)
  • Exchange – exchange: ex – former change – change, change
  • Watermelon – watermelon: water – water melon – melon (water melon)

You can also associate situations. For example, to memorize the word “fist”, imagine a large pistachio that you smash with your fist.

As for memorization, it is effective in two cases – if the words are classified by consonance, when a group of words is similar in the first or last words. Or teach constructions in the second way – according to thematic classification, which is closer to me personally. The same group includes the most used words and phrases. However, it is better to quickly fix hard-to-remember words in memory by choosing a consonant analogue.

Writing stories

To quickly memorize English words, the “Writing stories” method is also very effective. You just need to come up with a story that will use all the required vocabulary. This story can be anything, even ridiculous, but you need to imagine it in all the details. Imagination will help you easily remember a made-up story, especially if you connect English vocabulary using original and sometimes awkward ways.

For example, you need to remember the following words:

shoes, piano, tree, pencil, bird, bus, books, driver, dog, pizza, flower, door, TV set, spoons, chair, jump, dance, throw, computer, stone

(shoes, piano, wood, pencil, bird, bus, books, driver, dog, pizza, flower, door, TV, spoons, chair, jump, dance, throw, computer, stone).

From these English words such a phantasmagoria can be born:

There is a piano wearing shoes and sitting in a tree. The tree is strange because someone has stuck a giant pencil through it. On the pencil a bird is sitting and watching a bus full of people reading books.

Even the driver is reading a book which is bad because he isn’t paying attention to driving. So, he hits a dog that is eating a pizza in the middle of the road and kills it. The driver digs a hole and buries the dog in it and then puts a flower on it.

He notices that there is a door in the dog’s grave and opens it. Inside he can see a TV set with 2 spoons for antennas on top of it. No-one is watching the TV set because they are all watching the chair. Why? – Because the chair is jumping and dancing and throwing stones at the computer.

The piano is sitting on a tree with shoes on. The tree looks strange because someone pierced it with a huge pencil. A bird sits on a pencil and looks at a bus full of people reading books.

Even the driver reads a book, which is bad, because he does not pay attention to the road. Therefore, he knocks to death a dog that was eating pizza in the middle of the road. The driver digs a hole and buries the dog, and then places a flower on top.

He notices that there is a door in the dog’s grave and opens it. Inside, he sees a TV with two spoons on top, which act as antennas. Nobody watches TV because everyone is looking at the chair. Why? Because the chair jumps and dances and throws stones at the computer.

Practice English as often as possible

If your English classes are limited to two hours a week, then it is hardly worth waiting for the result. Words that you do not use, you forget – this is an axiom. You can use them all together only with regular practice. Write essays and essays more often (participate in competitions), speak English more often (preferably with native speakers).

Cards

This way of memorizing English words is quite simple both at the stage of preparation and during implementation. Taking small pieces of paper (the denser the better), write down on each of them the word you need to remember and its translation on the back. The size of these cards will allow you to take them with you and return to repetition over and over again in your free time. On the cards, you can also write down the most common expressions, words on various topics, etc. Regular repetition of information using this technique helps to improve memory performance.

This way of memorizing English words is perfect for kinesthetics and visuals. For those who have predominantly kinesthetic memory, this technique will literally “hold in hands” new information, feel it with your fingers. Pictures drawn on cards with those English words and phrases that are difficult to memorize will help visuals to increase the effectiveness of this method. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a talent for drawing. Strange or awkward pictures make the human brain concentrate on them, and this contributes to better assimilation of information.

Cards with English words and phrases should be constantly carried with you, returning to memorizing them at every free minute. In transport, in line, while waiting for a movie in the cinema, watch them, read and remember the meaning. If difficulties arise, you can always peep the translation on the back of the card.

This method of memorizing English words will also be effective for audiences, if you pronounce the words aloud while reading.

Universal algorithm for learning English words in 3 steps

Have you noticed that you often memorize words that you have already learned before? This is not surprising, because you probably did not use them in speech – the brain simply discarded and forgot the unnecessary part of the vocabulary. But often it seems impossible to memorize a certain word itself. It does not cause any associations, it seems difficult to spell and pronounce. Let’s talk about how easy it is to memorize English words using the universal ESL technique. It involves studying them in 3 steps:

  1. Look at the word, read it out loud and find out the meaning. The meaning is understood as the semantic load of a given word in a specific sentence – it is no secret that many words have several meanings when translated, so the context comes to the fore. Example: in the sentence “Her head is strange”, “head” will obviously mean not the head, but the boss – another meaning of the word.
  2. Compose and write down a sentence with a word. It is best to keep it simple and short, consisting of words you already know and one new one. In such an environment, the brain quickly grasps the context and remembers the lexical unit being memorized.
  3. Make a sentence with the word verbally. In the third step, it is important not to write down the sentence that has been drawn up, but simply to say it. It should be just as short and simple – the only difference is that you don’t need to write anything down, but it is important to pronounce each word clearly, understanding its meaning in this context.

Learning words using this technique is really easy. There is only one difficulty left: how to remember the spelling of English words, especially difficult ones? It is important to work on phonetics here – you must understand the lettering of the sounds spoken. Are you sure you know how certain letters are read in different syllables and situations? Work on phonetics. After that, try to divide the word into its component parts (root, suffixes), pick up the same root words and try to use the association method for accurate memorization.

Frequent repetition

This method of memorization will seem very boring. However, repeating vocabulary over and over is a very effective technique. According to experts, for better memorization, it is necessary to use the word at least 5 times in context. Come up with 5 different phrases that contain the desired word and say them out loud. For consolidation it is recommended to write these sentences down.

Think deeply

The Law of Comprehension: According to Ebbinghaus, meaningful material is remembered 9 times faster. It is not so much the words and sentences that make up the text that are imprinted in the memory, but the thoughts contained in them. They are the first to come to mind when you need to remember the content of the text.

However, learning how to properly organize information at the moment of memorization is not an easy task. You can use key words, diagrams, charts and tables. The forecasting technique is also effective: after starting to read a paragraph, try, after the author has put forward several arguments, to draw a conclusion on your own, to explain to yourself what you read, even if it seems obvious to you. Having formulated the information in your own words, you will remember it for a long time.

Memories

Memos are a great way for kids to memorize English words, which is equally effective for kids and adults alike. It consists in creating small poems in which the necessary vocabulary rhymes with words in Russian. At the same time, the method of artistic association is also involved:

  • Plum here and plum there,

Plum in English plam.

  • I prefer watermelon to plums,

Watermelon is aka watermelon.

  • The price of melons is written in chalk,

Melon in English melon.

  • A fairy told me in a dream:

Pear in English pear.

Such verses seem at first glance to be meaningless, but their rhythm contributes to the high-quality memorization of English words.

Use mnemonic tricks

Look for associations – consonant words and expressions. They will help create a certain image in your head, which you will no longer be able to refuse. Over time, he will leave, but only when he reaches an advanced level of English, then other associations will come in his place. At the initial stages, however, mnemonic techniques will come in handy.

Favorite movies, TV shows, songs, podcasts, books

This method is good because the words are remembered in a context that is not boring for you. If you already watch films in English, it is worth taking vocabulary from there. It is paid, but worth the money: you can watch new films and TV series in high quality with Russian and English subtitles. As soon as you come across an unfamiliar word, click on it and it will automatically go into your personal dictionary of new words.

Alternatively, use the search bar in your browser: enter the name of the song and add the word lyrics.

Stickers

Adhesive colored papers are used not only for office notes, but also as a language learning tool. Let’s say you are mastering the topic “Kitchen”, which includes words on the following topics:

  • dishes;
  • furniture;
  • Appliances;
  • plumbing;
  • food and meals.

How easy is it to memorize so many different English vocabulary? It’s very simple. Go to your own kitchen and put stickers with English names on the objects you study. Your gaze will cling to a bright piece of paper and constantly resemble the English word for this subject. The main thing is to look into the kitchen more often.

The same can be done with just about any theme. It is not even necessary that you have a suitable subject. For example, you are learning irregular verbs. Write out some difficult shapes on the sticker and stick it on the monitor. Now, when you decide to work on the computer, your gaze will also catch on to the piece of paper, and you will once again pronounce the forms of irregular verbs. A couple of such mini-lessons – and you yourself will not notice how you memorize the material.

Thus, stickers are an effective method for learning English words quickly and easily in a short period of time. It has practically no drawbacks if you follow the above lesson methodology. Unless, households will object to the abundance of stickers.

Use learned vocabulary in speech

How to learn English words correctly and not forget them? Are you familiar with the use it or lose it principle? For knowledge to remain in memory, you need to actively “use” it. It is good practice to compose short stories using new words. Best remembered vocabulary, set out in a short funny text, which is written about yourself beloved or dear things.

If you take a course or study with an English teacher, try to insert new words into the conversation as often as possible: the more times you say a word, the better you remember it. Don’t forget about spelling: try to use new words in writing.

Special textbooks

Vocabulary textbooks will help you learn new words and phrases in which they are used. The great thing about the manuals is that they provide lists of words along with examples of their use, so the words learn in context.

How not to forget a new word?

If you learned a word in accordance with these rules, then it will settle in your head for permanent residence. But! If you don’t use it in speech for a long time, over time the English word will move from an active vocabulary to a passive one. How can you avoid this?

Come up with a vivid association for yourself!

This will especially help with abstract concepts, long and difficult words to write, etc.

For example, our service has a special field for entering an association. For those with associative thinking and developed visual memory, this is just a godsend: you close your eyes and remember this phrase.

Use the spaced repetition technique!

In repetition, the main thing is not the character (HOW to repeat), but the timing of the workout (WHEN to repeat). It is better to do this when you are about to forget what you have learned. These moments of forgetting were established by the German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, who deduced the so-called “forgetting curve”.

Let’s say you’ve learned a word. Repeat it a few minutes after that, then after a couple of hours, then after a day, then after 2 days, then after 5 days, then after 10 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 8 months, etc. .d. After a while, the word will sit firmly in my head.

Memory cards

Another way to memorize English words for visuals is with Mind Maps. They are flow charts through which new vocabulary is absorbed by topic. To draw such a flowchart, you need to take a large sheet of paper, write a thematic word in the middle (for example, travel), and from it – a string of arrows in a circle. Each arrow represents a more specific topic: transport, hotel, excursions, etc. Another row of arrows – the next layer – further specifies the chosen topic (plane, breakfast, monument, etc.). Depending on the breadth of the original theme, you can make as many layers as you like. With the help of such a logical and detailed scheme, the process of memorizing English words will begin already at the drawing stage. The rest of the vocabulary is learned through repeated repetitions.

How to learn English words: simple and modern techniques. How to memorize English words quickly and easily

Remember interesting

The traditional approach to learning new words, tested by generations of schoolchildren, is as follows: foreign words are given in lists according to topics, for example, “Acquaintance”, “Letter to a friend”, “My day”. The set of topics is standard and universal, which is not always effective: if the topic does not arouse interest, it is much more difficult to learn new vocabulary. The experience of our school shows: if the choice of the studied words is approached in strict accordance with the specific goals and interests of each student, at the intersection of useful and pleasant, the result is optimal!

For example, if you like the TV series “Game of Thrones”, it will be much more interesting for you to learn words, generate images and concepts that are related to the plot of the film, for example: queen – queen, northern – northern, wall – wall, castle – castle.

How to learn English words: simple and modern techniques. How to memorize English words quickly and easily

Increase your English vocabulary with context

As mentioned earlier, it is better (and easier) to memorize new words in context. One way is to write a sentence with this word. You will not only remember this word, but you can easily use it in conversation.

Another way is to memorize words in groups. If you want to remember the word humongous (very large), it will be easier for you to remember it from the chain of words: getting bigger and bigger — large, huge, humongous. It also makes it possible to memorize more words at a time.

Polyglot

This way to quickly memorize English words will help you master up to 150 new concepts every day. It is based on a system of sequential mental operations and actions, thanks to which the memorization skill is formed.

Memorization scheme according to the “Polyglot” system:

  1. Translation of the English word.

  2. Selection of a Russian word consonant in pronunciation.

  3. Combining the image of the translation and the image of the consonant word.

  4. Fixation of the English word.

  5. Writing the word on paper.

  6. Checking the quality of memorization.

  7. Fixation on the card (corresponding record).

Example:

  • Look – look [luk].

  • Onion.

  • “I can’t watch when they cut onions.”

  • Using red cards, cover all the free space around the English word “look”, which should be in the center. Imagine that you photograph this word with your memory so that its graphic image remains in it, and read it out loud several times.

  • Write the word.

  • To check the quality of memorization, you need to write an English word from right to left, reproducing one letter at a time:… k ..ok .ook look.

  • Write an English word on a card to review.

How much do you need to repeat to learn?

Pimsler advised repeating the phrase 11 times. You can make it easier and get by with nine approaches: read, repeat after 30 minutes, then the next morning, then after three days, a week, a month, three months, six months and a year later.
If you repeat the phrase for 10 seconds (two dubbing for five seconds), then you will need one and a half minutes a year.
To avoid confusion, write the date of the next repetition on the word card and put everything in folders or boxes.

External verification

Bring in a relative or friend for additional verification. This method does not imply grading, but with the help of external control, the process of memorizing English words will be very effective.

How to learn English words: simple and modern techniques. How to memorize English words quickly and easily

Test your knowledge regularly

It is helpful to take various vocabulary tests from time to time. For example, great tests with pictures (a joy for visuals and children) are provided on the Vocabulary for learners of English page. After passing such a test, you will immediately see what is memorized and which topics or words need to be repeated.

Own dictionary

Almost all people who have learned English remember their notebook with the words written out. You may ask why in the modern world there is such a relic of the past when you can take any list of words from the Internet. Well, we will answer: just to make it easier and better to memorize English words.

For effective memorization of information, one must be able not only to perceive correctly, but also to process it “for oneself”. This is the law of any activity. Our own thoughts, ideas and actions are processed by our brain much better than copying, let alone memorizing, other people’s ideas.

Therefore, get in the habit of keeping your own vocabulary of words in English. Write down the most difficult expressions to memorize in it and repeat them when you have a free minute. For even greater efficiency, after each page covered with writing, conduct a test dictation in English.

After a few sessions, you will feel your progress and see for yourself that a seemingly simple “notebook” is a necessary and irreplaceable thing when learning a foreign language.

How to combine the two ways to learn words quickly and easily?

If your level allows you to read simple texts, you can expand your vocabulary by combining the “hard” and “easy” methods:

  • Read the text in English,
  • Write out unfamiliar words
  • Make up sets of flashcards with these words and memorize them.

A few tips:

  • Read only what you are really interested in,
  • Write out not all unfamiliar words in a row (so you will quickly lose interest in reading), but only words that are important for understanding the text or words that seem useful.
  • Write out not only words, but also phrases, phrases-speech patterns, such as formulas of politeness, greetings, etc., are especially useful.

Personally, I did this: if I read a paper book or on my phone, I wrote out words with a pen in a notebook or saved them to notes on my phone, then I created sets of cards and repeated the words. Sometimes it was lazy, and I didn’t make cards, but just looked through the notes, repeating the written words – even this way helps to remember them. If I read it in a browser, I saved the words with the help of “LeoTranslator” and then repeated them with the help of cards in Lingvaleo or just looking through the list.

Prescribing

You need to write down new vocabulary over and over again. This tried and tested way of memorizing English words can be pretty boring, but that doesn’t make it less effective.

Audio, video, writing, logic circuits and maps

This is not really a technique, but rather a tip: if you want to learn words in English as quickly as possible, include your individual qualities in the work.

  • Do you understand better by ear? Listen to special audio recordings or record your own audio lessons.
  • Prefer visual design? Watch videos with popular vocabulary, study words with pictures, independently compose images for the studied expressions.
  • Are you accustomed to trusting feelings more? Learn vocabulary in writing or on the move. Manually rewrite thematic collections of words, animate words with gestures and movements, tap out the rhythm of syllables.
  • Is it all your logic and strict ordering of the studied material? Make thematic diagrams or mind maps (smart maps). For example, words are studied on the topic “apartment”. Logical nodes of the scheme: room-kitchen-bathroom-corridor. From these bases there are ramifications into objects typical for the interior: bathroom – shower, washbasin, tiles; corridor – hanger, mirror, bedside table, etc.

How to stop forgetting English words

Method 1 – “Vivid associations”. If a word refuses to get into memory, it is worth choosing a vivid association for it. It is worth visualizing or fixing it in the mind – it can be a vivid picture or image that will be tied to the selected meaning of the lexical unit. At the same time, the connection does not have to be logical – the association should be clear to you, this is quite enough. Remember that images are remembered much better, use associative thinking.

Method 2 – “Spaced repetition technique”. The spaced repetition method is largely based on the “forgetting curve” created by the German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus. In accordance with it, it is necessary to repeat the word 2 minutes after studying, then after 2 days, then after 4, then after 8. Then it should be repeated after 5 weeks, 4 months and 8 months. After that, the word will forever remain in your memory. However, it is very difficult to calculate the time for repetition yourself – it is worth using a special application.

Reading

For those who have a fairly high level of knowledge of a foreign language, the most suitable way to memorize English words is reading. With the help of books, you can expand your vocabulary by marking and writing out vocabulary that you are not already familiar with. As you read, you comprehend the meaning from the context, and English words themselves become your passive stock. But to fix them in memory, you need to use additional methods of memorization.

How to learn English words: simple and modern techniques. How to memorize English words quickly and easily

Mnemonics

The method of artistic association as a way of memorizing English words contributes to their assimilation by creating vivid images in the head. The more original the image, the more successful the process.

For instance:

  • “Spoon” – a baby gnome named Spoon falls asleep in a bed-spoon;

  • “Chess” (chess) – the chess king scratches the back of a chess knight;

  • “Turnip” (turnip) – turnip holds the horizontal bar with its leaves-hands and performs exercises;

  • “Ship” (ship) – a ship, which instead of cannon barrels stick out huge sharp spikes.

Mnemonics can be classified as a quick way to memorize English words, the main thing is to find a suitable artistic image.

Mobile apps and games

With modern gadgets and Internet access, you can quickly study any information.

So, for different mobile platforms, many applications for learning English words have been developed. They are small electronic collections on everyday and most popular topics for communication. As a rule, the study of words is checked in several aspects at once:

  • spelling;
  • listening comprehension;
  • self-pronunciation.

And this is a big plus of this learning method. But, he has several significant disadvantages.

The most important drawbacks of mobile language learning apps are the small volume of vocabulary and the ease of guessing words. Often, expressions are in one sequence, or the desired word is logically guessed from the picture. This method does not help the brain to work at full capacity, and accordingly, memory is not turned on at full strength. And this is true, more likely just a game than a complete training.

Slightly more serious are specialized sites that help users learn words. Here the lesson has a similar format, but the thematic selections are richer and the control over the mastering of information is more strict. But, we would also recommend them only as an additional source of information or a way to conduct an English lesson outside the box. After all, it is also not a secret for anyone that it is impossible to carry out the same lessons from day to day. Diversity is the key to successful language acquisition. And here interactive applications will come in handy.

Let’s summarize. How to learn English words every day – program

  1. Learn only the words you need! This is the base + specific vocabulary for your area of ​​interest. Also learn more verbs, combinations and whole phrases. You can find all this in special sets, dictionaries and materials in English (adapted – for the base, thematic – for special lexicon).
  2. Learn words only in context! If you “get” a word from an article, song, etc. – then keep it in mind with this context. You take the “lonely” word – look for a context for it. And in no case try to immediately learn all the meanings of a polysemantic word! You will only get confused and lose touch with the main thing – with the context.
  3. Immediately try to apply the word in life! If there are no communication situations in English yet, then invent your own examples: act out a scene with this word, remember a real life situation associated with it. Remember that for a strong memorization, you need to meet the word 7-9 times in different situations, and preferably in those that relate to experiences close to you.
  4. So that the word is not forgotten, come up with a vivid association for it: graphic, auditory, funny, stupid – it doesn’t matter. The main thing is that it matches your type of thinking (are you an auditor? A visual? A kinesthetic?) And work for you.
  5. Keep repetition rates to a minimum by using spaced repetition techniques.

Sources used and useful links on the topic: https://info-profi.net/zapominat-anglijskie-slova/ https://EnglishFull.ru/znat/vyuchit-mnogo-slov.html https://www.englishpatient.org / articles / sposoby-zapominaniya-anglijskih-slov https://skyeng.ru/articles/kak-uchit-angliyskie-slova https://englex.ru/10-useful-advice-on-how-to-increase-your -vocabulary / https://speakenglishwell.ru/kak-bystro-vyuchit-anglijskie-slova-metodiki-leksika/ https://corp.lingualeo.com/ru/2017/04/11/kak-uchit-angliyskie-slova -8-pravil-ot-6-ekspertov / https://ienglish.ru/blog/interesno-ob-angliiskom/kak-viuchit-angliiskiy-bistro-samomu/kak-bistro-vyuchit-mnogo-angliskikh-slov-tekhniki -zapominania https://habr.com/ru/company/puzzleenglish/blog/408921/ https://langformula.ru/learn-words/

How to learn English words: fast and easy, forever and without cramming

как запоминать английские слова быстро и легко

How to learn English words by reading texts, books or articles. My proven method.

Hello dear readers of my blog. In this article, I will tell you how to learn English words correctly and effectively. I have been using this method for several years now, because it helps me learn expressions quickly and easily. It really works with me, allows me to read a lot and learn by reading in English. Most importantly, I have tested this method on my students.

Entry

When we learn a foreign language, we all the time think of this process as «learning», that is, as something that makes us tense. I propose to diversify this process a bit by using reading books, news or topics so that you read what you are interested in. Then it will be perceived as a rest, it will help to memorize English words forever and without cramming. 

How does reading help you learn English words?

Reading texts, books, articles helps to repeat and practice already learned phrases. Thus, you fix them in your memory, learn according to the context correctly, for memorization. And this helps them not only to begin to understand, but to use them in their speech.

Most importantly, it expands your vocabulary and improves your pronunciation of words when read aloud. Additionally, while reading books, you also repeat grammar, develop the skill of understanding the text in English without translating it in your mind. This skill is called Reading Comprehesion.

What Reading Comprehension?

compensation comes from the verb «comprehend / ˌkɑːmprɪˈhend / to comprehend». The definition in the Oxford Dictionary is: comprehesion / ˌkɑːmprɪˈhenʃn / 

Source: https://irasenglish.com/lexis/kak-uchit-slova-chitaya-teksty.html

How to Memorize English Words Quickly and Easily — SpaceDeer AntiSchool Tips

как запоминать английские слова быстро и легко

ANTON LAZORENKO / 14.08.2019

Doctor English

Conducts weekly consultations

He teaches English at the AntiSchool. Believes that every teacher should be a psychologist.

Nikita

A person who wants to learn English

Learns English all his life. The same number of people forgets and remembers English words.

So many videos have already been shot about how to memorize English words. And we still don’t remember them. Maybe because Dr. English hasn’t talked about it yet?

The most effective way to memorize

Doctor English

We all want the most effective tool to do something important to us. But the most effective means suitable for absolutely everyone. And we are all different. There is no most effective way to lose weight that will work for everyone. Or quit smoking. Or become rich. The same is with memorizing foreign words. How to memorize English words?

I would be glad to tell you — take this application and your problem is solved, but I am your doctor, and I cannot deceive.

And yet, what methods work?

Nikita

For example, I post stickers at home on different things, with their names in English.

What is wrong, are you going to scold me?

Doctor English

I never scold students, and for that I will even praise you. This is how the context is established with the appearance of the things that surround you every day, and with the place where they lie. When you need to remember a word, you can imagine the room in the house and the place where the object is. It works great with nouns. What about other parts of speech or abstract concepts like happiness, coincidence, liberty?

Nikita

Well, here I use a dictionary application, different words on cards pop up to me, and I study them, honestly, a few words every day. But where do they go then? How to quickly memorize English words?

Doctor English

There is no context in the application if you see only the word and the translation — therefore, there is very little chance of remembering. Let’s expand on your sticky method to memorize any words. A similar method is used by the hero of Benedict Cumberbatch in the TV series Sherlock. It is called the Palace of Memory or Halls of Mind, and does not even require the use of stickers. This is a completely scientific method of memorization based on visualization.

You imagine a well-known place — a long street, building, or store, and for each item or location you assign a piece of information that you want to remember. In our case, this is some kind of English word.

When you need to remember a word again, it’s like you go for a walk around this place, and you find an object that you associated with the word. How well to memorize English words? It is the Halls of Mind that are used by the participants of the competitions from memory.

This way you can memorize large amounts of information.

Doctor English

You can use the Leitner system. You write a list of words you want to memorize, each word on a separate sheet, with a translation on the back. Then you work with it in a convenient way — you learn by heart, stick stickers, take an application or go to the palaces of the mind. You check your memorization in the following way — you take sheets with words, read the version in your native language and translate.

If it works, you send the word into a separate pile, which you will use in 4 days. If it didn’t work out, the word remains in the same pile, and tomorrow you will work with it again, as you do every day. When the fourth day comes, you take both shots and repeat the procedure. And you continue to work on the same system further, moving words from pile to pile.

Remember — if you forget even one word, you start repeating it again every day. There is even a special application for this — Anki Flashcards.

Leitner system

The method consists in repeating foreign words at different intervals depending on the result of the reproduction of the word from memory.

AntiSchool of English Space Deer

In the classroom, we talk for 90 minutes, instead of 10. And we do interactive homework online, because it’s more interesting.

I remember. How to use it?

Doctor English

Remember and use are two different things. To use, in addition to the name of the word, you need to understand its context and place in the sentence. To successfully learn and use a word, you need the following:

  1. Learn the name of a word
  2. Write it. Not typing, but writing with your own hand is also a very effective memorization method.
  3. Read and recognize it in the text
  4. Be able to hear a word in a song or video
  5. Write a few sentences with him
  6. Use it spoken several times. This does not have to be done in a live conversation, although it would be ideal for memorization. You can imagine with whom and how you could use this word, simulate a phrase and pronounce it.

Nikita

So why didn’t you say about this instruction on how to memorize English words in 5 minutes before? Now everything is clear, with every word I just do these six steps. I ran, goodbye!

Doctor English

Wait, Nikita. These 6 steps cannot be done right away, during one lesson or day. I meant that if these actions occur with a word, then we can assume that you have memorized it and can use it in speech.

Nikita

Dr. English, how easy is it to memorize new English words? Is it possible to learn at least something in English in an easy way?

Doctor English

Oh Nikita, it looks like we still have a lot of sessions

How do you like the article?

Source: https://www.spacedeer.com.ua/blog/kak-zapominat-anglijskie-slova/

How to Memorize 100 English Words a Day Easily: Resources to Test and Practice English Words

как запоминать английские слова быстро и легко

It would seem like a simple math problem from the fourth grade: if you learn 30-35 English words a day every day, how many words of English can you learn in a month and a year?

Of course, you easily calculated: you can learn about a thousand English words in a month and, accordingly, 12000 words in a year. I wonder what experience and practice say?

As vocabulary shrinks, the number of feelings that you can express, the number of events that you can describe, the number of objects that you can name decreases. Not only understanding is limited, but also experience. A person grows thanks to language. Whenever he limits the language, he decays.

~ Sheri S. Tepper

As practice shows, you can learn something, but you will not be able to keep it in an active reserve and regularly use it in speech. Words without practice and associative connections are quickly forgotten, which the creators of intensive English courses keep silent about.

True, you always have a chance memorize a large number of English words — it all depends on the peculiarities of memory and techniques for memorizing English words, which we will talk about today.

How to learn a lot of English words quickly

Learning English words is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Signing the names of unfamiliar words is one of the most effective methods for memorizing.

Want to learn a lot of English words in a short time? The German scientist Ebinghaus found that with mechanical memorization, that is, when a person does not understand the meaning of the material and does not use mnemonics, after an hour only 44% of the information remains in memory, and after a week less than 25%. Fortunately, with conscious memorization, information is forgotten much more slowly.

First of all, you need to determine how it is easier for you to assimilate new information: by ear, to see it, or to write it down?

It will not take much time, but it will greatly facilitate the training and selection of effective techniques for you in the future. One of the tests that will help you determine how it is easier for you to remember new information is presented on this site. By answering 30 questions, you will be able to know exactly what type you are.

In short, we recall that visuals easily memorize new words after seeing or reading, audials — by ear, and kinesthetics need to be in motion, for example, to write information on paper.

In the modern world, most people are dominated by the visual type of perception of new information. Remember how long annoying commercials seen on TV or posters and banners that dot the streets of the city are kept in our memory.

You also need to know that 100% visuals or audials don’t exist. But some channel is still dominant, and it is this channel that should be used if your goal is learn a lot of English words quickly.

Visual method of memorizing English words

Characteristics and scheme of information perception by visuals.

If you have read the novel «Martin Eden» by Jack London, then most likely remember that the main character learned a huge number of academic words, pasting sheets of paper with new words at home.

Visual method for memorizing English words — this is pasting all the objects that surround you with stickers with new words. How does the visual method work? You constantly stumble upon an abundance of English words, read, memorize and, of course, use English words.

Purchase from the store or make your own cards with new words, translation, transcription, and even an example of use. It is convenient to take such cards with you if you take a long time to get to work or constantly disappear in queues. They can be classically done on paper or downloaded to your phone.

If you are just starting to learn English, you will be interested in the article «How to start learning English: learning secrets»

On the Internet, you can find and download applications for mobile phones that use a visual way to expand vocabulary. The most popular are Words, Easy Ten and Duolingo: Learn Languages ​​Free.

Vivid pictures with captions, memory simulators, verification tests that use these mobile applications will help you learn a lot of English words in a short time … And most importantly, they are always at hand!

If your level is not initial (Pre-Intermediate and higher), you can watch films, programs and videos with and without subtitles, writing out not only new words, but also useful colloquial phrases.

English audio tutorials and podcasts

Characteristics and scheme of information perception by auditors.

If you belong to a rare category of people (about 10%) who love and remember with their ears, then this is the method for you.

The main condition for expanding vocabulary is to constantly listen to English speech, whether at home in the kitchen or in the car in traffic. New words and expressions can be written down and repeated periodically.

With this method, you will not be afraid to perceive speech by ear and your listening skills will improve.

Start with simple, short audio podcasts, possibly with translation. Then go to speech of the carriers. You can also listen and translate songs, watch movies in English and TV shows in the original.

TPR method for expanding vocabulary

Characteristics and scheme of information perception by kinesthetics.

The third type of information perception, which includes kinesthetics, prefers movement to static learning. If you are a kinesthetic, remember to write down new words on paper. It is better if you have a diary dictionary that you can refer to from time to time.

In teaching children, it is often used TPR (Total Physical Response) method … But, believe me, if you are a kinesthetic, this method is also for you: with its help you can easily learn English words and phrases.

The essence of the method consists in memorizing new words, phrases and lexical constructions using gestures, command execution, pantomime and games. For example, on the word ball (ball), you need to perform an action associated with this object, for example, a ball game.

For more information on the TPR method, read the article “TPR or Actively Learn English”.

Mnemonics and memorization of English words

An illustrative example of how mnemonics works.

One of the most effective ways to memorize English, and indeed foreign words, is mnemonics. The method of mnemonics (or mnemonics) is based on creating images in your mind. You take information that needs to be remembered and turn it into an image through association.

First you need to understand that the brain does not remember the images that appear in the head, but the connections between several images. This is very important to remember, because immediately during memorization, it is necessary to focus on this.

Mnemonics actively develops memory and thinking. the task is to create images that are connected in the imagination in various ways. Images should be colored, large and detailed.

Learning English words with mnemonics is incredibly easy! We select the most consonant word (or a few words) from the native language for a foreign word.

How mnemonics works when memorizing English words, let’s look at an example:

Source: https://ienglish.ru/blog/interesno-ob-angliiskom/kak-viuchit-angliiskiy-bistro-samomu/kak-bistro-vyuchit-mnogo-angliskikh-slov-tekhniki-zapominania

Memorizing words — fast and easy

Memorizing words Is a very important and most voluminous part of language learning. The more you know the words, the better you will understand what you hear and read, the easier it will be for you to convey your thought to the foreign interlocutor.

3000 words is the minimum required to at least somehow communicate with at least some foreigner. 3000 words is 800 hours of boring cramming. By the way, it takes less time to study higher mathematics in universities. Therefore, nothing saves you time and energy as correct method of memorizing words.

How easy is it to memorize English words? What are the ways to memorize English words? How to memorize English words forever? You will find the answers in this article.

I will tell you about the most effective techniques for memorizing words, which will allow you to spend only 2-3 minutes on deep memorization of one word. It is based on two time-tested techniques for memorizing words — mnemonics and the method of cards. But before you start, you need to prepare material for memorization. I will tell you in steps how to do it.

Selection of words to memorize

Not all words are created equal. Obviously, you shouldn’t memorize words that you will never use. Here are some ideas for where to find the words you really need:

  • Learn the basic vocabulary needed to understand foreign speech. There are eternal topics like «Greetings», «Family», «Food», everyone needs to know them.
  • Do you read a lot in English? Learn English by the Ilya Frank Method? Then take the vocabulary from the texts you read. You will involuntarily notice unfamiliar words that are more common than others.
  • Are you a schoolboy or a student? Surely you are being asked to take home lessons. This is also good vocabulary building material.
  • Are you going to work for a large company? Learn Business English. Do you work as a programmer? Learn terms in your specialty.

These tips will help you build an impressive list of memorized words. The list will contain a lot of useful vocabulary, but also a lot of unnecessary ones. Extra words need to be filtered out:

  • The first (main) filter is a frequency dictionary. You can see the frequency of use of words in English here. If your English is at an elementary level, you are only interested in the first 2000 positions of the frequency dictionary, if the intermediate level, then the first 4000 positions. Cross the rest of the words off the list.
  • Filter the second (optional) to come up with a situation in which you could apply the memorized word. If the situation seems unlikely, then cross the word off the list.

Translation preparation

Almost every English word has a variety of translation options. You shouldn’t even try to memorize them all. The most comfortable situation for your memory is one translation for each memorized word. How to choose one of the many options?

Try to generalize, find a translation that will be synonymous with all other translation options. A translation that will be correct in most situations of using the memorized word.

For example, a word walk has about 20 translation options, including walking, walking and even marching. I would translate it as walk… Because if you translate

«I walk down the street» instead «I’m walking down the street»

or

«Soldiers Walking on Red Square» instead «Soldiers Marching on Red Square»,

then the meaning of the sentence will be clear anyway.

Preparing cards.   

With the flashcard method, generations of translators have been increasing their vocabulary in record time. Flashcards for memorizing English words are prepared as follows. Buy a 10 x 10 cm stack of paper cards from a stationery store. Fold each card in half, write the memorized word with transcription on one side, and the translation on the other. In the middle (in the place of the fold) we will take notes that will make it easier for us to memorize words.

We make one card for each memorized word. We collect cards by topic in piles of 20-30 cards. Transport in one pile, business words in another, travel in a third. Cards grouped by topic are easier to remember.

Memorizing words

So, we have done some serious preparatory work. It’s time to start directly memorizing English words. We will memorize words in two ways and in two stages:

  • Stage one. We memorize words using mnemonics. This method ensures that after some effort the word stays in your memory for at least a few weeks. It is much more effective than cramming, since it allows you to immediately throw information into long-term memory, bypassing short-term memory (read the detailed description of the method here).
  • Stage two. Repetition using the flashcards method will provide an even stronger memorization of words — you can confidently translate the vocabulary learned after many months or even years.

A few facts that are mentioned in any book on mnemonics:

  • the method was used by the outstanding ancient Greek orator Cicero;
  • mnemonics is an order of magnitude more effective than cramming, because it uses the hidden reserves of the human brain;
  • there are unique people, such as the Guinness record holder Samvel Gharibyan, who, using this method, memorized 1000 words per hour.

The method of mnemonics is worthy of a separate article (you can read it here) and even a whole book (here), I highly recommend reading it. But for those in a hurry, I will try to summarize the essence so that you can start using this most effective technique for memorizing English words.

The essence of the method is to invent a connection between a word and its translation. This relationship is called a mnemonic association. Let me explain with an example how to quickly memorize English words. Let’s try to remember

Eagle [needle] — eagle

Eagle is consonant with the Russian «igla». We need to come up with a connection between an eagle and a needle. And according to the rules of mnemonics, this connection should be unexpected, as absurd as possible. Our brains are designed in such a way that illogical connections are better remembered.

Imagine an eagle with medical needles instead of claws — this will be our association.

You need to come up with a reinforcement — a sentence describing the association. This will help you memorize the word faster and deeper. Like association, reinforcement should be flamboyant and unexpected. For our memorized word, I propose this version of reinforcement — «The claws of an eagle are ten hellish needles.»

We write reinforcement on the card — in the middle of the card. We folded the cards in half just so we could record the reinforcement at the fold. In the future, if you cannot translate some kind of card, then open it, look at the reinforcement and remember the association.

I am sure that the word eagle is already firmly embedded in your memory, but memorization can be made even more solid. Do the following:

  • Turn on your imagination and try to represent the association as vividly as possible. Try to use all your senses — sight, hearing (like an eagle screams), touch (like an eagle digs into your hand with sharp needles).
  • Make some English sentences with a memorable word.

I hope the essence of the method is clear. Use mnemonic techniques to learn all the flashcards in the stack you have prepared.

Method of cards. Memorizing words through repetition

The card method is very simple. You already have everything you need. The memorized vocabulary must be repeated after a week, then after a month, then after three months, then after a year. To repeat, take a stack of cards and do the following with each card:

  • look at the card and try to remember the translation;
  • turn the card over and check what you remember with what is written;
  • if you made a mistake in the translation, open the card, look at the reinforcement, remember the association;
  • put the card at the end of the pile.

Try translating flashcards in both directions — from English to Russian and from Russian to English. When translating from Russian into English, try to remember both the spelling of the word and its pronunciation (transcription).

Thus, you need to go through all the cards in the pile 5-10 times, until you transfer all the cards without errors. After each repetition, the cards in the pile must be shuffled. Sometimes there are flashcards that cause special difficulties that you cannot translate with confidence even after 10 repetitions. These cards should be put in a separate pile; this pile should be repeated more carefully.

Always carry several stacks of cards with you, then you won’t have to spend your free time on repetition at all. You will repeat the stack, standing in line or in transport on the way to work — you can use every minute of waiting to your advantage.

There is a detailed description of the card method here. The frequency and number of repetitions, everything is described in detail.

Language practice is the best way to memorize words

Mnemonics and flashcards are great techniques for memorizing words. They will teach you to memorize words quickly and for a long time. But remember that without use, any knowledge is quickly forgotten and the best way to keep your English at a high level is constant language practice. To improve your vocabulary, the best way to practice is reading in English.

Of course, not many people can just pick up and start reading fiction in English. This requires memorizing a lot of words. Good grammar knowledge is also required. But there are specially selected and prepared adapted texts in English. These are texts written using a limited set of commonly used vocabulary.

It is enough to memorize 2000 words that are used most often, and you can already read the text in English. Memorizing words through reading it is much faster and another advantage of this method is that it is interesting to read. Much more interesting than just memorizing words. And this interest gives you additional motivation to learn the language.

Ilya Frank’s reading method should be noted separately. These are parallel texts, parallel text means that a translation is written next to each sentence in brackets.

It is easy to read such texts, because if something is not clear, you can immediately look into the translation. Memorization of words happens by itself, in addition, while reading, you will notice the words that occur most often.

It is also worth remembering these words. You need to write them down on cards and memorize them as described above.

There is a whole encyclopedia of Wikipedia simple English in adapted English, and there is a radio station Voice of America broadcasting in simplified English. So, everyone can find materials of interest, the reading of which will ensure the memorization of words.

Source: http://pcards.hreminder.com/15-strategii/8-words-main.html

5 ways to learn English words and not forget them

Learning English words is much easier than it sounds. If you disagree with this, then, apparently, because at school you were forced to cram the columns of words that were remembered with difficulty, but were forgotten the next day. Fortunately, learning words is now a pleasure using simple techniques, tutorials, and readily available English materials.

Learning English words and learning a language are not the same thing.

First of all, we note that language learning is not limited to memorizing words. Yes, you cannot erase words from the language, but their interaction in speech occurs according to the rules of grammar. In addition, vocabulary and grammar will not be «animated» without practice in reading, listening, speaking and writing. Some of the techniques listed below involve memorizing words in the context of live speech.

Cards with words

Ordinary cards made of cardboard are a powerful tool for memorizing words. Cut out cards of a convenient size from thick cardboard, write on one side English words or phrases, on the other — Russian and repeat.

To be more effective, take sets of 15-30 flashcards and learn words in two directions — English-Russian and Russian-English — in four steps:

  1. Acquaintance with words. Skim the cards as you speak the words aloud, trying to imagine the objects, actions, and even abstractions they represent. Don’t try to memorize words thoroughly, just get to know them, hook them on the memory hook. Some of the words will be remembered already at this stage, but not reliably.
  2. Repetition of English — Russian. Looking at the English side, remember the Russian translation. Go through the deck until you can guess all the words (usually 2-4 runs). Be sure to shuffle the cards! Memorizing words with a list is ineffective largely due to the fact that words are memorized in a certain order. The cards do not have this drawback.
  3. Repetition Russian — English. The same, but from Russian to English. This task is a little more difficult, but 2–4 rounds will be enough.
  4. Fastening. At this point, time the time with a stopwatch. Run the deck as quickly as possible, achieving instant recognition of the word without hesitation. Do 2-4 rounds, trying to keep the stopwatch at a shorter time each round. Don’t forget to shuffle the cards. Words can be run in both directions or optionally in one (better in Russian-English, as it is more difficult). At this stage, you will achieve instant, without translation in your mind, recognition of the word.

It is not necessary to make cards out of cardboard; there are convenient programs for creating electronic cards, for example, Quizlet. With the help of this service, you can make voiced cards, add pictures to them, teach in different modes, including games.

Price: Free

Spaced repetition method

The method consists of repeating words using flashcards, but at intervals. It is believed that, following a certain repetition algorithm, a student fixes information in long-term memory. If the information is not repeated, it will be forgotten as unnecessary.

The most popular spaced-repetition word memorization program is Anki. Create a deck of words, and the application itself will select the half-forgotten material and offer to repeat it at regular intervals.

Convenience is that you only need to load the words, and the program itself will tell you when and what to repeat. But sometimes the interval method is simply not necessary. If you are learning a selection of such common words as days of the week and months, verbs of movement, vehicles, then there is no need to repeat them according to a special algorithm: they will already be encountered very often in the textbook, when reading, in speech.

Memorizing words while reading in English

It makes sense to learn words with flashcards when the vocabulary is still insufficient even to understand the simplest texts. If you do not yet know such basic vocabulary as days of the week, colors, motion verbs, politeness formulas, then it is convenient to lay the foundation of your vocabulary by memorizing words from flashcards. According to linguists, the minimum vocabulary for understanding simple texts and speech is about 2-3 thousand words.

But, if you can already read in English, try to write words out of the text as you read. It will not be just vocabulary taken from a dictionary, but living words, surrounded by context, associatively tied to the plot, the content of the text.

Don’t write out every unfamiliar word in a row. Write out useful words and phrases, as well as words, without understanding which it is impossible to understand even the basic meaning. Write just a few words per page to reduce distraction from your reading. After reading an article or chapter of a book, words can be quickly repeated.

By the way, if you just read in English without writing anything out, the vocabulary will also grow, but much more slowly and only if you read a lot and regularly, for example, every day for half an hour or an hour.

Learning programs can greatly simplify and speed up the memorization of words. For example, when reading texts online, you can save words with a single click and then repeat them using the Leo-Translator browser extension.

Memorizing words from video and audio recordings

While it is easy to underline or write out a word while reading, it is more difficult with a film or audio recording. But listening (listening) for vocabulary learning is no less interesting than books. In live speech of native speakers, there are fewer bookish, uncommon words and more popular colloquial expressions. In addition, listening develops not only vocabulary, but also the skill of listening comprehension.

The easiest way to learn English from films and audio recordings is to just watch or listen without being distracted by spelling out words. This is the easiest approach, but this way you are unlikely to learn something new, just fix the already familiar words well (which is also important).

If you write out and then repeat new words, then you will not only enjoy the movie, but also replenish your vocabulary. Of course, while watching, it is very inconvenient to be distracted by pause and writing down words, but you can take short notes, and then return to them and analyze the material in more detail. As with reading, you do not need to write out all the incomprehensible words in a row.

It is much easier to study audio and video using dedicated sites. Most of all, the popular online services LinguaLeo and Puzzle English are suitable for this, which use a special interface for easy viewing of videos with the ability to quickly (click on a word in subtitles) translate and save words.

Memorizing words while writing and speaking

Reading and listening is passive speech activity, speech perception. Speaking and writing is an active use of language. When you write or speak, vocabulary develops in a different way: you have to practice using already familiar words, translating them from passive (at the level of comprehension) to active vocabulary.

While writing, whether it be an essay or informal chatting, you have to constantly select words and try to understand, more accurately express the idea. A situation often arises when you want to say something, but do not know the right word or expression. It is not difficult to find it with the help of a dictionary, but do not let this valuable find be immediately forgotten — write down such small discoveries and repeat in your free time. Practice in vigorous speech activity is great for identifying such gaps.

Of course, you won’t be able to look into the dictionary during an oral conversation, but speaking practice forces you to work out already familiar words and constructions. You have to strain your memory, remember everything that is stored even in its most distant corners in order to express a thought. Conversational practice for learning a language is like training for the body: you strengthen, develop your «language form», transferring words from passive to active stock.

Conclusion

The first two methods — flashcards and spaced repetition — are suitable for memorizing collections of words, such as “In the city,” “Clothes,” and so on. Methods three through five are designed to memorize words during speech practice.

If you want the words to be not only remembered but also not forgotten, regularly practice reading and listening. Having met a familiar word several times in a living context, you will remember it forever. If you want not only to have a passive vocabulary, but also to freely express thoughts — communicate in the language. This will help you transform dry knowledge into confident skills. After all, we do not learn languages ​​in order to know them, but in order to use them.

Source: https://lifehacker.ru/english-words/

How to memorize English words without doing anything. Especially for the lazy — Cynical English

Hello!

The topic of today’s post is extremely straightforward. How to memorize English wordswithout resorting to any special techniques. Let’s say you are incredibly lazy, you have enough enhanced brain activity at work and there is not the slightest desire to delve into the intricacies of memorization when using the tabbed method, look for a good illustrated dictionary or construct associations to memorize words.

And is there such a way? There is, as without it. It is quite possible, quickly and easily to memorize English words without doing anything special. Although no, I’m lying. You still have to do something. For example breathe

How to memorize English words. A guide for the laziest

First, a few numbers. It is believed (and I am ready to subscribe to each number based on my own experience) that in order to memorize a particular English word qualitatively, it is necessary to hear it (or read it) at least 20 times, of course in different contexts. But this is only for those who are doing well with their memory.

If you are honest with yourself and are ready to admit that your memory is so-so, average, the required number of repetitions rises to 30-35 times.

And finally, if the head is in real trouble (like mine), you need to hear or see an unfamiliar word in English, about 50 times to remember it completely. I don’t know how the definitions “fast” and “easy” are applicable here, but nevertheless.

Let’s consider the last case, as the most difficult, in more detail.

You can try to “pull” from a dictionary, for example Longman’s, ten 2 examples with the use of an unfamiliar English word, look for sentences with an unfamiliar word on English-language news resources, thus dial the desired number 50 and read the resulting “vinaigrette”.

But it’s like going to Moscow from St. Petersburg by electric trains, with three transfers. There are comfortable long-distance trains

Today, teacher Luke from London will act as such a «train», and I will modestly assist. Don’t you know this? Check out Luke’s website.

Now I will not dwell on the achievements of this absolutely amazing person, I will only say that he and the smiling American AJ Hoge, in my opinion, are real revolutionaries in the field of teaching English, especially independent, such Che Guevaras of the spirit who challenged the established system, consisting of both from school education, and a variety of English courses.

True, Comandante Che was shot by Bolivian militarists, and AJ Hoge and Luke are in good health, which inspires some hopes for a successful outcome.

Try it yourself how easy it is to remember the English word stammer

You can see for yourself the effectiveness of this approach to memorizing English words. What did Luke do? He recorded almost an hour-long audio, with a fairly detailed analysis of the British film “King’s speech”, we know it as “The King Speaks”.

  Very briefly, the content is as follows, a peasant needs to sit on the throne, and he stammer — stutters and, therefore, is not quite suitable for public speaking, which were necessary in the era of the absence of television and the Internet.

But the character, brilliantly embodied on the screen by Colin Firth, turned out to be a guy made of flint and steel, and with the help of a loser actor who cleverly masqueraded as a speech therapist, he managed to turn himself around, conquered the illness and became the national leader of Britain during the Second World War.

“Nails would be made of these people, everyone in Russia would have more fun.”

However, let’s all the same, closer to 50 repetitions of the word stammer, since it is it that acts as a guinea pig, experiments on which teacher Luke is conducting. Luke’s ranting monologue is fascinating, replete with unexpected excursions into the history of the treatment of stammer — stuttering, in Britain, or the sudden appearance of a person who suffered from a similar disorder and now talks about it in detail and frankly.

Personally, you DO NOT DO ANYTHING! You just listen, sometimes with a smile, but nevertheless with interest. Luke plays the word stammer over and over again in all sorts of variations.

Source: http://sinenglish.ru/kak-zapominat-anglijskie-slova/kak-zapominat-anglijskie-slova-nichego-ne-delaya-tolko-dlya-lenivyx.html

How to quickly learn English words: a detailed description of the methods | Articles in English on Study.ru

  1. About memory work
  2. How to understand what needs to be taught and what not
  3. Common mistakes in learning new vocabulary
  4. Repeat, repeat, repeat
  5. Word groups
  6. Cards
  7. Cards-2
  8. Making lists
  9. Native language
  10. Learn interesting
  11. Mobile phone applications
  12. additional services

I have a memory like a fish: I just can’t remember English words! How can you ever learn so many new words? I devote a lot of time to increasing my vocabulary, but when it comes time to show off fresh knowledge, I can’t remember the right word! I want my vocabulary to be like an Oxford dictionary, but I keep forgetting what I already learned! vocabulary is really an important aspect. I would even say — one of the most important. Little schoolchildren come to their first English lesson, and where do you think their learning begins? With grammar? From the alphabet? No. Acquaintance with the language always begins with new words and expressions.

Therefore, today we will talk about how learn to teach new words, how to make sure that they do not fly in transit over your head, but remain in your memory and appear in the right place and at the right time.

Now there will be a small excursion into psychology. Let’s remember that our memory is divided into two types:

  1. Long-term.
  2. Short-term. It is also called operational.

All information coming from the outside to the brain is first stored in short-term memory. If we constantly use it, if we introduce it into our daily life more and more often, then it smoothly turns into a long-term one and remains there forever. You won’t be able to press the delete button here, even if these are “Pythagorean pants are equal in all directions”, about which you want to forget forever.

Also, our brain has a wonderful quality: it does not like boredom. Everything that he considers boring, uninteresting and irrelevant, he erases mercilessly. Therefore, it is here that it is worth noting a very important point:

Don’t even try to learn long sheets of new words 100 at a time. Nothing good will come of it. The main thing: there is no point in learning words that you will never use anywhere!

How to understand what needs to be taught and what not

Earlier we talked about how many words you need to know in order to speak fluently and understand English. Now our main question is — which words should be included in the 3000 units you need specifically?

Someone before us has deduced a golden formula, thanks to which you can easily calculate the required vocabulary: base + your personal dictionary, where Base is the most frequently used words by native speakers in a given period of time (they are also called high-frequency words), and Personal dictionary — this is already what is your personal interest.

Therefore, it is important to develop your vocabulary in the direction that is close to you, and where knowledge of the necessary vocabulary will definitely come in handy for you:

  • being just a student of a foreign university;
  • on work trips and interviews;

Source: https://www.study.ru/article/sovety/kak-bystro-vyuchit-angliyskie-slova

We memorize English words easily. Six strategies for effective learning

Learning a foreign language (especially new words) is hard painstaking work, impossible without tedious hours of cramming, isn’t it? Not really. “If you use the power of your brain correctly, learning can become a much faster and more exciting process,” says Inna Maksimenko, founder of the author’s English language courses.

Why do small children mastering their native language, as well as polyglots who easily master several languages ​​at once, do not experience any particular difficulties? Inna told us about effective learning strategies that these people use. Take advantage of their secrets, and you will also learn to memorize words much easier and faster.

Strategy 1. Harness the Power of Emotions

What comes to your mind when you mention the word honey? Only an English textbook or an English-Russian dictionary? But people who memorize English words most quickly and easily know how to associate them with something important to themselves.

For example, the same word honey can conjure up the image of a beloved girl (after all, this is how Americans call those they love). And if you come across a new word in an interesting story, then it will connect with the emotions that you experience while reading the story. An interesting conversation in English will also help you quickly memorize a new word.

Why it works: Any positive emotion activates our ability to learn. After all, they signal that a given word refers to something meaningful to us.

Recommended: Learn English with the help of texts, films, books that interest you. Chat with interesting people. Then the very experience of such learning will become a positive emotional factor that will help you remember the words.

Strategy 2. «Embed» a new word in your experience

“When young children learn their native language,” says Inna Maksimenko, they begin to notice a new word in a variety of situations, environments, and contexts. ” For example, hearing the word «white» for the first time, a small child begins to repeat it when he sees white snow, white paper, white sugar.

And this is what helps him remember the word quickly and easily.

Why it works: Thus, the brain forms associations with different parts of the previous experience, the new word is associated with what the child already knows well, becomes more familiar and familiar. And to reproduce it in memory, you no longer need to strain, it is enough just to remember about sugar or snow.

Recommended: Use the new word more often in different situations — try to use it by retelling the text, doing your homework, practicing English with fellow students, with native speakers.

Strategy 3. Believe in your capabilities

Tell me, do you have a good memory? Is it easy for you to memorize English words? Whatever your opinion about your own abilities, sooner or later it will turn into reality. People who successfully learned English believed in their ability to do so.

Why it works: Self-beliefs often turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. By mentally repeating that languages ​​are difficult for you, you are programming your brain to resist learning. «Why memorize these words — your unconscious is sure, — after all, nothing will work out anyway.»

Recommended: If you feel like learning languages ​​isn’t good for you, try to understand where this belief came from. “It is confirmed by past experience,” you say, “so at school I grabbed a C for the language, and I passed the exam twice at the institute”.

In fact, these events have nothing to do with your abilities. The reason for the failure could be poor health, lack of time to prepare, or the fact that you did not need to know the language at that time.

Learn to share isolated failures and your abilities in general, and believe in yourself.

Strategy 4. Remember forever

«How long will the knowledge of English remain after your courses?» — many listeners ask. “If I don’t use the language, will I forget it a year after graduation?” The answer to this question also largely depends on the beliefs and motivation of the person himself. People who are successful in learning languages ​​usually believe in their ability to quickly regain knowledge. “When I have such a need, I will quickly remember everything I need,” they say.

Why it works: Our beliefs shape not only the ability to perceive information, but also the ability to store it. We can believe that we have a good, in principle, memory — only a little short. “It will fly into one ear and fly out into the other,” we say in such cases, and reality, as always, confirms our expectations.

We recommend: Form in your mind an image of a quick recovery of lost skills. Determine the period of time during which your skills will recover. For example: «A week of working on the language will be enough for me to remember everything.» “Two hours of communication with a foreigner is enough for me to start speaking fluently and confidently again.”

Strategy 5. Remember the goal

Studies have shown that people with a good reason to learn a language are able to learn it much faster than others. For example, one of the Moscow doctors was able to master English in just a month — knowing that this would allow him to go on a foreign internship. Students who are told that certain words will be required in the next lesson are statistically better remembered than those who are not told about it.

Why it works: Any undertaking is impossible without a good reason, desire, motivation. Motivation gives strength. People who start learning English because it is fashionable often drop out halfway through. And if you have a goal, then your chances of successfully mastering the language are much greater.

Recommended: Remember why you are learning English. Perhaps you are dreaming of going to study in the USA, or watching the famous musical «Cats» in the original version, you want to get a promotion, or you dream of giving lectures in English. When memorizing words, choose, first of all, those that you actively use in Russian.

Strategy 6. Learning unconsciously

A small child easily masters his native language in the process of playing, communicating, learning about the world. A person who finds himself in the country of the language being studied quickly «absorbs» dozens and hundreds of new words along with the peculiarities of pronunciation and grammar. But they do not sit over textbooks and do not memorize words on purpose!

Why it works: It’s no secret that the average person uses only a tiny fraction of the potential of their own brain. But people who successfully master any languages ​​were able to use the hidden capabilities of their unconscious.

It is known that the unconscious learns several times faster than the consciousness. This happens in those moments when the consciousness is «loaded» with other activities. For example, while you are watching a movie or chatting with a friend, you focus on the topic of the conversation.

And at this time, your unconscious is memorizing new words.

Recommended: Practice English vocabulary. For example, read an interesting story, watch movies, listen to audio materials, news, and often communicate with people in English. Then your consciousness will be occupied with the plot, and the unconscious will be able to easily assimilate new words and expressions. “In our courses,” says Inna Maksimenko, “we don’t learn words on purpose. And yet they are easy to remember. «

I hope I have convinced you that it is easy to memorize foreign words — quite possible. You just need to set a goal, believe in yourself and start working on the English language. And then, one day, the ability to easily communicate or lecture in the language will become a reality for you.

Natalia Eremeeva, englishmax.ru

Source: https://www.native-english.ru/articles/simple

How to quickly learn English words: techniques, tips for choosing vocabulary

Learn English: memorize a large number of words forever. How to increase vocabulary in the shortest possible time?

Words are the basis of the language and without them no knowledge of the rules helps. But as most people say, the hardest part of learning English is learning the required number of words.

Yes, as soon as you learn the words, you will not become a polyglot, but you will be able to understand speech without difficulty, express yourself somehow and convey your thoughts, but the most important thing is probably to watch movies, listen to music and read in English.

In this article, we will go over the basic principles of learning a large number of English words.

Learning English words simply: memorization technique

Standard cramming of English words is considered the least effective, because it is boring in the first place, and everything that is boring our brain is intuitively repulsive. On average, pupils learn no more than 1.5 thousand words for their studies at school, half of which are simply forgotten. We propose to abandon such a system and learn English words with fun and pleasure.

Mobile apps and games are a great way to learn English words

So, let’s take a look at the main problems of learning English words:

  • As soon as you stop repeating words, they are instantly forgotten;
  • Learning a large number of words at a time is not very easy, and sometimes impossible;
  • Not entirely correct understanding of the process of effectively learning words in general;
  • Short-term memory is a dangerous thing, because as soon as words get there, they are forgotten immediately after repetition.

After that, scientists once again conducted a series of studies that showed a certain result. First, we learn words, the second is repetition in a certain order:

  • 20-30 minutes break and again you need to repeat the English words;
  • After 1-2 hours, go through the same program again;
  • Repeat the next day;
  • After 7 days, repeat again;
  • After 14 days, another repeat;
  • After 60 days, repeat again.

This combination of traditional repetition and spaced learning is the perfect way to learn a large number of words forever, rather than for a short period of time.

Memorizing English words: tips

In this section, we offer several options for learning English words according to the above scheme. Which one is more effective depends entirely on the person. Try all the methods and then through trial and error you will surely find your ideal option.

We learn English words in order — take a dictionary and start learning along the way. On the one hand, it is boring, on the other hand, words of different complexity are memorized by many easier. The downside is that you don’t know the context in which this or that word is used, but on the other hand, it’s a great option for the base.

Thematic version of the study of words — take a notebook dictionary and write down words on the topic, for example «Home». Thus, you not only learn words, but also organize them. For example: a house, a private house, an apartment building, a skyscraper, a shopping center, a cinema, a country house, etc.

These schemes are one of the most effective ways to memorize words forever, but drawing on your own is very laborious, albeit interesting.

Learn words by flashcards.

This option previously assumed the production or purchase of cards, on which on the one hand an English word is written, on the other — its translation.

Today there are many mobile applications with such a system, supplemented with transcription and sound transmission of the word.

Learning words in context… Suitable for those who have already passed to the second and higher level. You watch a video in English, and when you encounter an unfamiliar word, you write down and learn the whole sentence in order to understand not only the word, but also its binders.

Now, having chosen the technique, let’s move on to the very system of memorizing English words. If you decide to learn words on your own, and not according to a ready-made program, remember this formula.

80% repetitions, 20% new words. At the same time, it is necessary to repeat both yesterday’s words and the words of two months ago. Thus, it will be easiest to remember new words, and not to forget already learned material.

You can learn words in different ways, but as soon as your stock goes beyond 1000 words, connect associations. Without them, it will be much more difficult to memorize the rest of the words.

How to quickly learn words in English?

In this part, we propose to study words in Mnemonics. This system is rapidly gaining momentum and becoming one of the most popular in the world. A word is a set of letters and a meaning. So, this technique suggests constructing associations between words and meanings in such a way that at the sight of a given set of letters, you recreate the necessary association and response in the brain.

Mnemonics is an effective way to learn words

Why Mnemonics works:

  • After years of research, scientists have proven that the brain is best for creating visual connections;
  • The technique appeared a long time ago and was actively used in Ancient Rome and Greece. Socrates was especially fond of her;
  • Mnemonics is given to everyone in different ways, but after learning 1000 words using this technique, almost all supporters of the technique say that they can memorize about 100 words per hour! That speaks about its high efficiency.

Four reasons to choose mnemonics:

  • The visual lobes in the human brain are the most powerful and contain the highest percentage of neurons, and, accordingly, they can assimilate the largest amount of information in a certain time, in comparison with other lobes;
  • The brain does not store sets of letters; the brain stores a picture with meaning (word) and sound. That is, regardless of whether we see the letters «dog», we hear the word dog, we still represent a dog;
  • Associations, like feelings, they take us to the place where we first got acquainted with something new, or in the period when emotions were at the highest level. The melody started playing, and you feel a gust of wind, goosebumps and before your eyes that time when this melody was special? This means that this direction is well developed for you, and you can memorize many words without any problems from the very first lessons. If not, then after a few weeks you will reach the desired level and can easily memorize a large number of words in one lesson;
  • 90% of those who started using this technique reported that after the first week of classes they memorize about 100-300 words (the indicator is individual and largely depends on the initial skills).

How to study Mnemonics:

  1. The visuals are good, but they are not suitable for this direction. Turn on the image and draw a picture in the head. For example, we learn the word sun. We close our eyes (if it doesn’t work with open eyes) and imagine a bright sun on a clear day. Not the street, but the sun, we «look» at it repeating the word and reading the letters;
  2. If the first rule isn’t working hard, try the second. Association with absurdity. We are looking for a suitable word in Russian, for example, for English fist so Russian begs pistachio… Now imagine a pistachio in a fist and say the word fist. Now it will definitely pop up in consciousness as the most vivid memory from a sound or a set of letters fist. But here it is important not to confuse that the word fist is a fist, not a pistachio;
  3. The plot associated with the picture. Another bright direction of abstraction. Introducing a giant crane lifting a giant fish and repeating fish;
  4. It is important to put your eyes correctly. For each word, you repeat 4-5 times and set your eyes in this way: slightly lifting and pointing at the bridge of the nose. According to scientists, in this position of the eyes, the neutrons of the visual part of the brain are most active;
  5. Learn to remember with open eyes, this is important, since memories come depending on whether you kept your eyes initially closed or open (to remember, you need to return your eyes to the same position);
  6. Repetition is the mother of learning. Do not forget the associations well, but without repeating the scheme given in the first section, the associations will disappear.

The main mistakes in quickly memorizing English words

No matter how hard you try to learn English words, you can make mistakes, so we propose to analyze the most basic ones, and ways to solve them.

  • «Today I will learn everything. « Do you know how muscles ache after the first workout? And then how does the body not want to train again, so as not to suffer in the end? So in studies, moderation is good, otherwise the lesson will quickly get bored and it will be very difficult to return to it.
  • «I’ll memorize the most difficult, and leave the easy for later.» Of course, the initiative is good, but then you simply have a «mess», because each level has its own vocabulary. English teachers recommend starting with simple words, especially verbs, and only after a month, try to move to a more difficult level.

Great association for learning the word «mistake»

  • «Today I will learn something new, and next week I will repeat it.» And again, deception, it is necessary to repeat it according to the compiled schedule, as well as 80% of the repetition and only 20% of the new, only in this way you can effectively remember everything and forever.
  • We teach without understanding the context. Do you know that the same object, the action is called differently depending on the situation? So, you need to memorize the word in context, and not separately, in order to minimize the «bloopers».
  • Learning words with incorrect pronunciation. Even if you don’t speak out loud, you are thinking with one pronunciation or another. We strongly recommend that you think several times and only then pronounce. This is very important, as retraining is 10 times more difficult than learning.

How to learn and memorize English words forever? Five tips

Source: https://crownenglishclub.ru/uprazhneniya/kak-bystro-vyuchit-anglijskie-slova-metodiki-sovety-po-vyboru-leksiki.html

Knowledge of the English year has always been in demand. It is the international language of business, culture, tourism, cinema and other important spheres of life, spoken by hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Recently, learning English has become extremely popular — moreover, fashionable. They strive to teach children from an early age, so that in the future it will become a good help for them in the professional field. Knowledge of the English language is highly valued by employers — because it emphasizes the professionalism of the employee and helps to solve complex problems.

However, learning English, like any other foreign language, is not easy. Learning is based primarily on memorizing unfamiliar words to form the student’s vocabulary. Without it, communication in a foreign language will be impossible, because it is through vocabulary that communication is carried out — both oral and written.

English for different groups of people

How can you speed up the learning process? For this, there are a number of effective methods that will help to firmly consolidate the vocabulary in the head and apply it in various communicative situations.

To choose the most effective method or several of them, it is worth first distinguishing three main groups of people according to the method of memorization:

  1. Visuals. About a third of the population has a predominantly visual memory. For these learners, the emphasis should be on eye contact with new vocabulary.
  2. Audials. New information in such people is better perceived and remembered through sounds. In this case, listening to audio and video recordings, frequent pronouncing of new words is suitable.
  3. Kinesthetics. New knowledge is fixed in the memory of such people through emotions, sensations, feelings. In this case, the use of pens, pencils, a computer keyboard for accelerated memorization of foreign vocabulary will be effective.

How to quickly memorize English words

  • Method of marking surrounding objects. For the speedy memorization of English words, it is worth sticking stickers with the names of objects, written with a marker, on all objects at home or in the office. Both kinesthetic memory (working with a marker) and visual (constant eye contact with stickers) work here. Constantly having English words in sight, the brain firmly fixes them in memory.
  • To memorize English words quickly and easily, you need to write flashcards with difficult vocabulary and carry them with you. In any free time, you can take them out and repeat — this reliable method will help to firmly fix the material.

Source: http://cool-english.com/kak-bystro-zapomnit-anglijskie-slova/

How easy it is to memorize English words

All learners want to memorize English words quickly and easily. But, of course, there is no such universal way that allows you to learn 100 English words in 5 minutes and not forget any of them. However, it is quite possible to learn to quickly memorize vocabulary and be able to retain it in memory for a long time. To do this, you just need to be able to choose the right technique. In this section, we will introduce you to the best of them.

Mnemonics

The question of how to quickly learn many English words has been considered by many linguists and scientists. Thanks to their searches and efforts, a unique method of memorizing foreign words was invented, based on the peculiarities of memory.

The standard approach to the study of vocabulary is carried out according to the following scheme: English spelling — transcription — translation. With this method, the memorized word is recognized primarily by its spelling, i.e. clearly. Therefore, we read and translate texts well, and in a conversation we often get lost and cannot remember a suitable expression.

The mnemonic method offers the opposite scheme: meaning — sound — spelling. At the same time, work with translation and pronunciation is carried out with the help of associations of the native language.

For example, let’s take the word monkey. The student’s task is to present a vivid image of a monkey and associate it with a phrase that is consonant with an English word. For example, the MONKEY ate a plate of MANKEY, or simply the MONKEY ate a MONKEY. And we imagine how a monkey eats semolina. A bright and consonant image 100% will settle in memory for a long time, and when you need to talk about monkeys in English, the word «decoys» will automatically be remembered.

Mnemonics is the most popular method of memorizing new information. If you urgently need to learn English words for a dictation or an exam, this technique will not be equal in effectiveness. But, if associative thinking is not at all your strong point, then it is better to find another easy and quick way to memorize English words.

, video, writing, logic circuits and maps

This is not really a technique, but rather a tip: if you want to learn words in English as quickly as possible, include your individual qualities in the work.

  • Do you hear information better? Listen to special audio recordings or record your own audio lessons.
  • Prefer visual design? Watch videos with popular vocabulary, study words with pictures, independently compose images for the studied expressions.
  • Are you accustomed to trusting feelings more? Learn vocabulary in writing or on the move. Manually rewrite thematic collections of words, animate words with gestures and movements, tap out the rhythm of syllables.

Source: https://vk.com/@abclanguage-kak-legko-zapominat-angliiskie-slova

8 min

Created: July 12th, 2022Last updated: April 3rd, 2023

How to Learn New Words in English Everyday

Contents

Expanding your vocabulary is task number one for everyone who is learning a foreign language. You can’t do without lexical knowledge, no matter how good your grammar is. Only this way can you learn to express yourself and speak clearly and concisely. But do not rush to imagine long learning hours. It is not necessary to have thick textbooks. We will tell you how to learn new words in English every day in a fast, effective, and fun way.

10 Tips for Learning New Words

 Positive Associations

It is easier for the brain to remember things related to the pleasant spheres of life or the interests of a particular person. So, it makes sense to study the terms connected to something that matters to you. To create a positive association, immediately use a new word in an exciting context. For example, if you’re interested in psychology, it’s easier to remember the word «slip» by combining it with the name of the famous psychologist Freud. Using the «Freudian slip» phrase increases your chances of memorizing an expression.

Read More

Reading is a conservative and time-tested way of learning new English words every day. This method has not lost its relevance. What makes it work? Reading books allows you to see everything in context and memorize entire phrases. This means that you understand how to use the word and maximize the chances of using it in your next conversation with a native speaker. Furthermore, while reading classical or modern literature, you practice grammar and learn several winged phrases. As you can see, reading has numerous advantages!

His Majesty, The Context

Learning something out of context is a bad idea. If you want to memorize better and faster, come up with whole stories for the new words. Try to talk about a recent event or describe someone using new vocabulary. It is not necessary to write short stories or novels. Even a few not very logical sentences will be enough. The most important thing is to understand how words function in speech and to remember their usage in practice. Don’t you like to compose stories? Make use of a mind map. In the center, write a new word and the associations that go with it.

Use Morphemic and Etymology

How to learn more words in English? Define the root of a particular word and immediately memorize all the lexis with the same morph. There are more one-root structures than you can imagine. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and other parts of speech may have one root. This way, you can quickly learn five words instead of one.

Etymology is the science of the origin of words. You can approach memorizing from this angle if you are interested in the history of language. Knowing the origins of the word will help you remember everything about it, from spelling to meaning. But we must caution you. This method of remembering is intriguing but difficult.

Writing Helps

It will be beneficial to write new words if your visual memory is the best. Notes on your smartphone, notepad, or stickers are acceptable. Use whatever is most convenient for you. One of the most effective methods is the use of stickers. By observing them, you can memorize the names of objects in a foreign language. Put a sticker with your name on everything around you. As a result, you will unintentionally learn things over time. Remove the stickers after a few days and try to recall the names of all the objects.

Gameplay

Scrabble - education word game

Today, many games help to learn new words in English every day easily and joyfully. It can be online quizzes, quests, or old-fashioned board games like Scrabble. Everyone can find a game to their liking. Don’t you want to use gadgets or buy table games? Practice backward spelling. Spell the new word backwards. Another helpful tip is called a memory game. Write down as many words as possible on a piece of paper. Look at it for 30 seconds. Then flip it over and try to resume the whole list from the back of the sheet.

Use Mnemonics

Mnemonics is a system of «internal writing» that facilitates memorizing the necessary information. Follow this simple plan to enhance your memory.

  • Speak the word aloud and find a consonant word in your native language.
  • Visualize the resulting image and link it to the word translation.
  • Speak the English word out loud, imagining its picture.

For example, «impetuous» contains the word «pet.». Impetuous means something impulsive or spontaneous. Consider your pet jumping on the door or fighting with the dog as examples of impetuous behavior. Finally, say this word aloud and visualize the image you imagined earlier.

Hear Your Inner Voice

Memory work is an internal process. Your inner voice can be your most valuable ally. How does it function? When you first hear a new word, repeat it to yourself and then say it aloud. Record your speech and listen to it later. Is the new word on the record similar to what you hear in your head? If you’re not happy with the outcome, work on your pronunciation. Many modern translation services include a listening function. Use this opportunity if you don’t know how to pronounce a word correctly or if you just want to hear information.

Watch Movies and TV Shows in English

This is probably one of the most enjoyable ways to learn new English words every day. Watching the film allows you to get used to the sound of foreign speech and live pronunciation. Dialogue in movies is the best source of context, which means you immediately remember how to use a new word. Also, there is a lot of useful lexicon in films. After watching several films, you will fill your vocabulary with synonyms and perceptive idioms. Furthermore, new vocabulary will be linked to visual images.

Return to the Studied Material

Learning new words every day in English is not enough. For a new word to remain in our long-term memory, it is necessary to repeat it. One day is not enough to achieve this goal. Once you have a new word, use it in context. The next step is to return to the word in an hour. Then, repeat the learned word before bedtime. Next, you should remember the new vocabulary the next day. And finally, repeat the material in 2-3 days.

What is the Best Way to Learn New Words in English?

There is no one right solution for all people. Each of us is an individual who must select the technique that is best for ourselves. First, it would be helpful to determine which memory type works best for you. If you are good at visualizing information, write new words on stickers and surround yourself with them.

If your learning style is auditory, you will benefit from watching movies and using the technique with the internal voice described above. If you like to analyze and immerse yourself in the essence of things and concepts, use etymology and morphemic for memorization. Are there methods for everyone to retain new English words every day? Yes, there are general tools that are equally helpful to everyone. Such techniques include repetition of the studied material and learning everything in context.

1

Which App is Best to Learn New English Words Every day?

Most modern apps do not provide a personalized experience for each user. This shortcoming is addressed by the Promova app. It provides a collection of tools that have been scientifically proven to be effective. You can learn the language by: 

  • engaging and alluring flashcards;
  • multi-cultural communities;
  • interesting exercises;
  • video courses.

The learning process is overseen by your personal tutor. Each newcomer is given a one-of-a-kind test to assist our professionals in learning more about your initial English level, preferences, and goals. Your responses will be used by the tutor to create a personalized course plan.

Learn the language thoroughly, working on your pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. When you use Promova, you can choose excellent content and personalized tutoring. We understand how to put science into action and can assist you in finding your path to success.

Conclusion

You must improve your vocabulary in order to express yourself clearly and beautifully. However, many people find it difficult to learn new words. And that’s fine. Nature did not endow each of us with a fantastic memory and the ability to remember 100 words per day. It’s fantastic that there are scientific techniques for memorizing things quickly and for a long time.

Most people will require the assistance of professionals to direct and focus their efforts on this path. After all, learning English requires a personalized approach, and we’ll assist you in finding your own. With the help of Promova, you can easily learn new words for everyday English and improve your ability to remember them for a long time.

FAQ

Where can I learn new English words every day?

There are many sources for this purpose. You can read classic or modern literature and newspapers; watch the news in English; or enjoy your favorite movies and TV series with subtitles. You can also use special apps and games. The main thing is to make the right choice, which will be effective for you!

How can I memorize vocabulary words?

There are many ways to achieve this. Here are just some of them: mnemonics, cards and stickers with words, use of words in context, playing games like crosswords, anagrams, and word searches. Find out which memory type you have most expressed. Knowing this, you can choose a method individually and increase your productivity.

Why can’t I remember new words?

It’s very common to forget a word from time to time. But if the issue is constant, you probably picked the wrong way to remember. Another probable reason is that you don’t go back to repeating what you’ve learned and only use short-term memory. To rectify the situation, you need to use long-term memory. They say repetition is the mother of learning.

How many words should I learn a day?

This ability is almost unbounded. The fact that humans have an almost infinite storage capacity for learning may seem unusual given how much we appear to forget every day. But it is a fact that you can learn a lot if you choose the proper technique that suits you best.

Tired of staring at huge lists of words in English?

Exhausted from carrying heavy vocabulary books around all day?

Let me show you seven easy ways to learn English words.

English students hate learning new vocabulary.

It’s no wonder. It’s boring and takes hours and hours to make just a little progress.

What if I were to tell you that there is a much better, much faster, far more productive way of learning new words?

If you have had enough of gazing at lists of English words then read on.

7 easy way to learn English words English vocabulary books are terrible

English Vocabulary Books are Terrible!

Many English students spend a lot of time and money on English vocabulary books in their attempt to learn English words. While this might be an admirable effort on their part, they could use their time and energy more productively.

I am not saying these huge vocabulary books are useless but you have to use them in the right way.

Going from word to word, your lips moving as you read out each line in your head, is not the best way to learn English vocabulary. It is certainly not the fastest.

I have outlined below seven fantastic methods of building word power. Follow these steps and you will gain great stacks of vocabulary that you can use in speaking and writing immediately.

It just requires a small amount of commitment and a little work. Not hard work but some work nonetheless.

Start by putting all of these steps into action today.

7 easy ways to learn English words read read and read some more

1. Read, Read and Read Some More

Reading is by far the best way to improve your English vocabulary. Even as a native English speaker, the more I read the more I expand my vocabulary every day without even trying.

But many English students have no idea how to do this.

Whenever I give students this advice they always ask me: What should I read?

And my answer is always the same — read whatever you want!

If you are interested in basketball, read about basketball. Read basketball websites, basketball magazines, basketball news and books about basketball.

Trust me, you are going to learn a lot of new words — and not just words that you can use in the context of basketball. Words that can be used in many other ways.

You can do this for any topic that you are interested in. People have more than one area of interest so start reading about anything you like.

Once you feel more confident, start reading other topics. Read the news, read novels, read biographies. You can choose from hundreds of daily news websites. And there are websites where you can read all the novels you want for free.

There is also this place called the library.

Ever heard of it?

Go down there and they will let you borrow dozens of books.

You can also use these great websites for reading practice.

News

Breaking News English

This site has hundreds of reading comprehension articles. All based on news and divided into different levels.

NPR

CNN

This is an easy to read version of CNN news.

New York Times

This is an easy to read version of The New York Times.

Other Sites for Reading Practice

Rong-Chang

This is mainly for very young students to high school students. But a great source of articles:

IXL

And two more aimed at English students:

Digital Counter Revolution

English Online

More Advanced Longer Articles

New Yorker

Talking Points and Short Stories

And you can always check out my Talking Points series and my short story lesson plans.

Download all of them for free right here:

Talking Points

Short Stories

Reading is by far the best way for you to learn new English words and the choice of reading material is unlimited.

Get to it.


Do you like my articles and lesson plans?

Why not join my mailing list and I can send you new articles and lesson plans when they come out?

Join here – ManWrites Newsletter


7 easy ways to learn English words use a dictionary

2. Use a Dictionary

It amazes me how many students do not use a dictionary. I have met students that simply do not know how to use one. Or parents who refuse to allow their children to use a dictionary as it is considered cheating.

Well, guess what? I use a dictionary every day.

I often encounter words that I don’t know or don’t know the exact meaning of it. So I look it up.

For English students, the best dictionary is a book dictionary. But if you don’t have one of those use a dictionary app or a website.

Do not use a dictionary that translates from English to your own language!

This is a very lazy method and you are not practising anything in English. Use an English-only dictionary as this will also help to expand your vocabulary.

Every time you read something and come across a word you don’t know — look it up in the dictionary.

Take a look at the following links for online dictionaries (these were kindly submitted by one of my regular subscribers Sérvulo — thank you, Sérvulo!)

Merriam-Webster

Cambridge

The Free Dictionary

Macmillan Dictionary

7 easy ways to learn English words keep a vocabulary notebook

3. Keep a Vocabulary Notebook

So you find a new word while reading.

  1. You look the word up in the dictionary.
  2. Now make a note of it.

Make this into a routine. Yes, it can be boring to do this. But after 30 days it will become a regular daily habit.

This is how you should make notes of new vocabulary.

  1. Write the English word down.
  2. Look the word up in your dictionary.
  3. Write down the meaning — in English. If you need to write down the word in your own language do that too.
  4. Use the word in a sentence of your own. This can help you use the word in the right context.

So for example;

Beautiful — adjective, having beauty, to describe something that has qualities we like to see or hear.

The girl was wearing a beautiful dress.

I like this music. It is very beautiful.

Continue doing these three steps and your vocabulary will grow at a fantastic rate.

7 easy ways to learn English words learn words by category or theme

4. Learn Words by Category or Theme

In vocabulary books, the publisher often creates lists of words divided into categories or themes. For example; transportation — and then a list of words that are connected to transportation. Car, truck, motorbike, traffic jam, etc.

But you can do this by yourself.

Just create your own categories and themes. Make lists of new words for these categories and this will help you in the learning process.

Let’s use the theme vacation. Now you have to think of words that are based on that theme. So you have the words hotel, trip, airport, book, tour guide, etc.

The simple act of creating your own list and looking up the meaning of the words by yourself reinforces the new words into your memory.

Combine this step with reading.

Use your list about vacation. Now find an article online. Just search using the terms: vacation reading article ESL.

You should be able to find a reading exercise to use.

Now you are making lists centred on a topic or theme, writing down the meaning of the words and example sentences. And then you read an article based on the category.

7 easy ways to learn English words make collocations

5. Make Collocations

Collocations are words or groups of words that belong together. Common collocations are go shopping, study English, practice writing, play tennis.

Usually, a collocation includes a verb and a noun.

These are great for everyday English.

Take words from your vocabulary notebook — or from your category or theme lists — and try to make collocations with them. This may be hard at first but you will find that very soon you could have huge lists of collocations. Things that you can use in your daily life in English.

For example; I have to return these library books, my car has run out of gas, I need to buy some more milk, etc.

Check my article on learning collocations right here.

7 easy ways to learn English words word formation

6. Word Formation

This is a little more advanced but it can make your English more fluent and standardised.

Many English words have a root word at the beginning.  This root can change each time to make the word into a noun, a verb, an adjective and an adverb,

Let’s look at the word collection. This is the noun form.

But we can also have collect — a verb.

And collective — an adjective.

And collectively — an adverb.

If you want your English to sound clearer then you really need to learn all the forms of these words.

Not all words have all four forms, some only have three. But you need to learn them and understand the different uses.

Use your dictionary and find the adjective form, verb form and adverb form of a noun. Quite often if you look up a word, the dictionary will show the adjective and verb forms of this word.

You know what to do next — write them all down in your notebook and make example sentences.

7 easy ways to learn English words write a blog

7. Write a Blog

One of the best ways to practice new vocabulary is to use it in writing. And a great way to practice writing is by making a blog.

There are so many free blogging platforms out there, but Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr and Medium are four popular platforms. Free to join and easy to start.

Write about whatever comes to mind.

Write stories, things about your daily life, something about your own country and share with the world.

You will find that you are reinforcing all the new vocabulary you learned into your memory. And the added advantage is that writing is a great skill to have in your life.

And that is it. Seven great ways for you to learn and improve your English vocabulary.

Start today and see how far your vocabulary grows in the next 30 days.

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