Words your way word lists

Are you looking for ways to improve your upper elementary word study or spelling routine this year? Or, are you just getting started with Words Their Way and looking for ways that other teachers plan and organize their word study block? Well, I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE because sharing all that I’ve learned over the years as my upper elementary word study routine has evolved just lights me up inside!

Realizing that my word study routine DID NOT need to revolve around a Monday — Friday structure was one of the best discoveries I’ve made in my teaching career. 🤯

Once I shifted from a Monday-Friday schedule to a rotation of 7 , 8, or 9 day cycles of meaningful word study and spelling activities, I really started seeing my students enjoy word study, and instead of routines that fell apart when we missed days of the week, we THRIVED on a schedule that was flexible to the realities of teaching schedules that sometimes (often!) have to change.

Learn how I went from the Monday — Friday grind to a 7, 8, or 9 day cycle approach!

This post was originally written in 2013, updated in 2017, and now up to date for 2022. This is the first post in a four part series where I’ve shared my love of word study and the leveled Words Their Way word sort books that I’ve used in my classroom since 2013. While I use Words Their Way as my guide for a differentiated word study program, the tips I offer on my blog can be applied to any word study or spelling program where the focus is on generalizing word knowledge to improve reading fluency and spelling.

In the second post, I share a few secrets about how I really make this routine work, and in the third post, I’ve included even more tips and suggestions! Like I said, I LOVE talking about this stuff, so let’s get the party started by shaping up your word study routine with some FRESH ideas!

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Read my full disclosure here.)

QUICK NOTES ABOUT WORDS THEIR WAY

If you are unfamiliar with Words Their Way, I recommend getting a copy of Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction, 7th Edition (Donald Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, et al.). Words Their Way is described as «a hands-on, developmentally-driven approach to word study that illustrates how to integrate and teach phonics, vocabulary, and spelling skills to all students.» Sorting words with common sounds, patterns, and word parts is a foundational strategy of Words Their Way.

If you are unfamiliar with word sorting routines, I found this awesome video that demonstrates some of the key aspects of a Words their Way program including an open sort, “no peaking” sort, and a small group meeting with the teacher.

You can also request my free word sort direction posters and a student choice board by entering your email below.

FIRST, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE OLD WAY: 

In my first few years of teaching 5th graders, I tried different routines and programs for spelling and word study. My school did not have a set spelling program, but I knew it was important for my students to have differentiated spelling lists.

I pre-tested students with a high-frequency word list and gave them a highlighted copy of the words they had spelled correctly. Each week, students pulled 5 personal words from the list and 5 words from my whole-group word study lesson. Students wrote their words on an index card, had me proof it, and placed it in their envelope on our word study chart that hung in the room.

My minilessons focused on a spelling pattern that I thought students needed to review. I tried to generate a list of shorter and longer words so that students on different levels could pull from the list but creating my own lists made planning for word study very time consuming and it was hard to challenge my best spellers.

On Fridays, students would buddy test with a partner, check one another’s spelling tests, and report the score to me. Any words that were not spelled correctly went onto the following week’s word study list for them to work with for another week.

—> Can you tell I was struggling to turn a chunk of my instruction that I felt was required into a worthy learning experience that would make an impact on my students’ spelling?

It was definitely a struggle to feel like I was doing the right thing during spelling/word study time. And every Sunday night, word study planning was a source of great stress and dread.

HOW RIDICULOUS that such a SMALL part of our school day caused me so much stress, but it did!

I barely remember the activities students did each day with their word lists, but I’m sure I would not recommend spending your time that way now. {#firstyearteacherproblems! #livelearnanddobetter!}

MY “BETTER” WORD STUDY ROUTINE

Fast forward a few years, and my word study program was revolutionized by the release of the Words Their Way Word Sorts books for each level of spellers. Thank goodness my school purchased these for us and handed a set of the books to each grade level.

All of a sudden, I could stop wracking my brain over word lists, what spelling patterns to focus on, and whether or not I was giving ALL of my students what they needed based on their spelling abilities. I could start focusing on actual strategies and activities for teaching students the word patterns they needed to learn to spell based on their level!

Using the Words Their Ways Spelling inventory to assess students at the beginning of the year gave me better data on where my students were in their spelling development AND because of the Words Their Way Sort books, I was READY TO GO with my word lists and printable word sorts.

All I had to do was score the assessments, group my students, decide where to start in the leveled books, and make copies of the sorts we would need each week! To see an example of the developmental spelling inventory, check out this awesome explanation of how to score that I found.

Of course, I learned many strategies along the way to not only make my word study time easier to plan and implement but to also make it a BLISSFUL time of our day. It quickly became something that my students and I looked forward to—we even called word study FUN sometimes and I think that was because of the routines I set up for students and the new attitude I had towards word study because it wasn’t such a stress-inducing aspect of my planning time anymore.

So, what activities did I find success with when I ditched the Monday — Friday routines? The routines and ideas I describe below are from the upper elementary perspective, so modifications and scaffolding may be necessary for lower grades and weaker spellers.

Here’s the most up-to-date word study cycle of activities that I recommend.

Day 1-2: Students complete a “DISCOVERY” WORD SEARCH (NO WORD LIST INCLUDED)

If you are familiar with Words Their Way, then you know that a «blind sort» is an activity where students sort the words into categories (and write them down) as they hear them called out. It’s called BLIND because they are not looking at the words to sort them. I decided to call these “discovery word searches” as students discover the words included on their current word list.

By seeking and searching through a word search, students have a fun way of figuring out their word pattern focus for the current word study cycle and as they work, they try to deduce the current word sort rule or pattern.

The word search «WORD searching» is an engaging, fun way for students to discover the words on their word list and sharpen their ability to recognize words that ARE spelled correctly (which I’ve found is a major key to spelling improvement).

Students also demonstrate their understanding of sorting by sound and/or look when they record the words they have found into categories. (Students have the word searches glued into their notebooks and MUST record the words as they find them by SORTING the words into categories).

I have created word searches for the Letter-Name Alphabetic, Within Word Pattern, Syllables and Affixes, and Derivational Relations Spellers sorting books. You have two formats to choose from—one where students record their word findings in their word study journals and one that provides students space to record the words they find in categories.

Note: Very few students complete a word search in one word study block. While I actually don’t expect students to find all of the their words, they do benefit from having a second day to “give it a go” and find more words since our word study block is a quick 15-20 minutes!

Day 3: MEET WITH THE TEACHER

Students receive their word lists on their desks to cut out when they arrive in the morning so that they are prepared for this meeting. Meet with the teacher time may include going over word searches, sorting words in different ways, introducing word study notebook activities, and playing games or independent hands-on activities so that students are prepared for upcoming activities in their rotation. The focus is always on discussing word patterns/rules and word meanings, etc., but the resources I use during Meet with the Teacher change as the year goes on and I add new activities to students’ schedule.

When word sorting is the focus, I like to simply ask students to sort their words and then have each student explain what criteria/word patterns they sorted them by. We look for any words that might be misplaced and as students are sorting, I work with individual students asking them to read the words in each column to me. (Often, students realize when they need to move a word to another category when you ask them to read the words aloud).

With my average/higher groups, I ask what words they found in their word search and we sort them into categories on a whiteboard. Sometimes I will provide them with other words they should have found, but hearing what their group members found gives them clues about other words to look for.

(I always have my Words Their Way Word Sort books open during this meeting so that I can refer to them and see what words students should have found.)

Modification: The lower groups need practice, practice, practice, and immediate feedback. When these kiddos meet with the teacher, I give them a whiteboard, marker, and eraser and fire off words at them from the list they are on and from previous lists. We often have to focus on short sounds vs long sounds, words with double vowel patterns, and making sure we have represented all of the sounds found in the words. I ultimately need to meet with my lowest spelling groups twice during a word study cycle. I’ll show you how I do that in my next post.

Day 4-5: PARTNER GAME OR INDEPENDENT HANDS-ON ACTIVITY (FUN DAY!)

I used to think that games during word study were SO PRIMARY! I’ve since changed my tune and realized that my students would benefit a ton from playing with their words 😂. In the past year, I’ve been incorporating word study games like match and memory, various board games, picture and word boards with spinners, and more into our rotation. I’ve created partner-based games AND other interactive, hands-on activities (that are very game-like) that students can play independently or with a partner. I include a few recurring game formats in my plans so that students play a variety of games throughout the year, BUT easily remember how to play the games the next time they see them with new words.

During game play, students have a recording sheet that not only holds them accountable for playing the games with purpose, but allows me to assess their understanding and check in where needed!

Why is this a two-day thing?! Well, you know, because it’s so fun to play games and do hands-on things with words. If you want to shorten your rotation to less than 9 days, this is a place to cut a day. In addition, it’s probably helpful to know that I don’t introduce all of these activities at once, but slowly bring out the games during Meet with the Teacher to introduce students to them and set them up for success when they are expected to play them independently.

Day 6: Writer’s Notebook Day

I think it’s important to include activities in our word study routine that remind students of one of the main purposes of word study—improved spelling! To meet that goal, I started implementing a Writer’s Notebook day into our word study routine and never looked back! How does this work?

👉 Everyone takes out their writer’s notebook, turns to a page that is full of writing and searches for misspelled words.

👉 When students think they have found all of the misspelled words on a page, they raise their hand and I skim to see if I can find anything they missed. I usually tell my better spellers, «I see #__ more misspelled words» and walk away to let them continue searching and correcting.

👉 For students having difficulty finding a misspelled word, I tell them which line to look on. Students write a correction above the word (they are allowed to ask for help from a neighbor or me after trying themselves, and I don’t usually have them searching through dictionaries because the goal is for students to improve their abilities for recognizing misspelled words…a key step to becoming a better speller!).

I believe our Writer’s Notebook day is CRITICAL to transferring spelling improvement and encouraging students to place some importance on spelling more words correctly when writing for authentic purposes. But, if you need to cut your cycle down a day, this is an activity you can skip.

DAY 7: WORD STUDY NOTEBOOK DAY

Word study notebooks are a way to encourage students to think deeply about the words on their word lists. I ask questions like: What do you notice about the way these words are spelled? What do you notice about the sounds in these words? What do you notice about the way the beginning/ending changed the meaning of the word? How did the spelling change when (something) was added? How did the spelling change when the tense changed? etc.

These word study notebook activities are meant to give students more structure as they delve into building a deeper understanding of the words and spelling patterns on their word list. While the activity sheets are designed for independent exploration, I am sure to go over how to complete the activity pages and recommend a gradual-release approach to using the word study notebook activities.

DAY 8: CATCH UP DAY, WORD SORTING ACTIVITIES, SELF-QUIZ DAY

“Catch-Up Day” is something new that I’ve added to students’ rotations. Although students do get better and better at finding words in their word searches, completing their word study notebooks, and doing their word sorting activities, a catch up day gives us some breathing room!

If students have completed all assigned activities, they can choose additional word sorts to do from their “You Choose” sorts boards, complete Look, Say, Cover, Write check to quiz themselves, and play games/hands on activities if I’ve introduced them.

Don’t forget to grab the Word Sorting Direction posters and Choice Board. I’ve also included directions for LSCW-Check and Building Words!

DAY 9: “HEAR IT/SORT AND SPELL IT” OR ‘NO PEAKING’ ASSESSMENT

Students need someone to call their word list out to them. If all students are assessing on the same day, I assign everyone a word study partner that is not in their word study group.

I require my students to complete their word study assessment by sorting their words into categories as they try to spell them correctly. This is why I’ve called it a “hear it/sort and spell it” sort.

I love sorting assessments because as I watch students categorize words, I see them actively thinking about spelling patterns—erasing, moving words around, and correcting misspelled words.

It is really amazing.

Students check their partner’s tests using their word lists, record a # correct/total at the top, and record missed words on their “Words to Work On” Chart. These are words that their spelling partner can pull two from each week. Once a word has been spelled correctly 3-4 times, it can be checked off of the list.

The only other thing I would add to this list is the opportunity for students to call words out to one another. If you have time, inserting a «whiteboard spelling day» would be really fun and beneficial for students. You could have students who are in the same group call out different words to one another. They could make it a little competitive by keeping score (which is a fair game because students are on the same spelling level.)

NOTE: I formerly called this a “blind” assessment, but have updated the language for sensitivity and to more clearly describe what students do in this assessment. In a “hear it/sort and spell it” assessment, students record the words in categories as they try to spell them correctly. As students complete a “hear it/sort and spell it” assessment, they actively consider the spelling patterns in the words, allowing them the opportunity to thoughtfully correct any misspellings as they work.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO CONSIDER

• WHOLE GROUP VOCABULARY DAY

Because vocabulary development is so important, some years, I’ve included a block of whole-group vocabulary lessons in our word study routine. This helps to expose all of my spellers to the importance of learning word meanings and gives them new vocabulary even if their personal word study words don’t lead to much vocabulary development.

The resources I’ve used for our vocabulary day have varied across the years, but I’ve used my 48 Character Traits set our content area vocabulary, Greek and Latin roots, and a Word a Week Vocabulary Program (a teacher book with vocabulary words and short stories to read aloud). Mrs. Wordsmith Storyteller’s Word A Day also looks like an amazing resource to use for a Word a Day program.

• USING TECHNOLOGY DAY 

Using web-based programs with game-like activities is a great way to provide an outlet for students to work with their words authentically and in a fun way. I used to have an entire day in our routine devoted to Spelling City, but unfortunately, Spelling City was bought by another company and is no longer what it used to be. I am now exploring Boom Learning and other tech-based programs in case I want to incorporate a web-based program in the future. If you want to incorporate technology into your spelling/word study program, look for websites like Boom Learning that provide students with immediate feedback as they work and answer questions.

Yes, my word study routine is MORE than 5 days and it has never been more impactful, fun, or meaningful for my students than it was before this schedule! I hope you have enjoyed a peek into my word study routines. Next up, I’ve shared a few ways that I modify for my struggling and advanced spellers, how I really organize my schedule, and my best tips for managing word study and making the routines go even smoother! Head here to explore other word study topics I’ve written about!

If you have any questions I can answer about my word study routine or setting up a phenomenal word study block, drop them in the comments!

SHOP THESE WORD STUDY RESOURCES TO MAKE creating an awesome routine EVEN EASIER!

Upon clicking the link above, you will be asked to make a copy of the word study schedule template. It is formatted in Google Slides where you will find my suggested 7 and 9 day word study routines with 5 small groups mapped out. You’ll also find editable slides where you can customize the word study schedule for your own classroom needs!

If you can memorize new vocabulary faster, you can learn a language faster too!  So, how do you memorize vocabulary faster and more effectively? Here are 10 proven memory hacks you should use!

How long it takes to learn a language? Well, that largely depends on your memory. What techniques should you use to help you to remember words in a foreign language? Simple. Use memory hacks! 

But first, let me dispel a common myth that you’re probably thinking. You don’t, I repeat, you DON’T have a bad memory. Just because you haven’t learned a language as quickly as you’d like or you forgot where you left your keys, that doesn’t mean you have a bad memory. You just didn’t make it a priority to remember.

Maybe you were multitasking and didn’t pay attention to where you put your keys or you have had something else on your mind. It happens. It’s totally normal and happens to all of us.

Our memory is a muscle. To build a good memory we just need to use simple techniques and methods for it to reach its full potential. Think of it like following a curated fitness programme with daily workout videos that help you build a strong and healthy body. Your memory is the same. It works best when it has been “trained” when it has a framework to work with.

The same can be said when it comes to remembering new words in a foreign language. Just because you see a word once, twice or even a hundred times, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically remember it and so you can use it in a conversation. 

We often talk about people with great memories as though it were some sort of an innate gift, but that is not the case. Great memories are learned. — Joshua Foer, Author of Moonwalking with Einstein

Memory can be trained just like any muscle, and you know what else? Learning a foreign language is actually an excellent way to improve your memory and your overall cognitive abilities. The more you learn, the easier it becomes to memorize new information. 

So, trust me when I say, you’re NOT missing the so-called “language learning gene”. The only thing you ARE missing are these top 10 proven techniques that will 10x your memory so you can remember more and learn languages faster! I’ve used each of these memory techniques and continue to use many of them to learn Italian, Norwegian, French and Afrikaans.

But first, it’s important to understand…

How does our Memory Work? 

Oxford Languages defines memory as ‘the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information’. Seems clear enough. But how does it actually work? Well, there are three main processes involved: encoding, storage, and recall.

The process of memory begins with encoding: acquiring or learning new information. Simply put, to remember something you need to learn it first. We take in information through different channels, but as we take it in we also analyze it and adapt it so it can be stored in our brain. 

This new information is usually encoded in one of the four ways: acoustically (how something sounds); visually (the way something looks); semantically (what something means); or in a tactile or elaborative way (how something feels and connects to other things). 

For example, if you’ve just met someone at a party and you want to remember their name you can repeat their name out loud, associate it with the way the person looks, place the name in a specific context or setting (like the exact place where you’ve met), or rely on the connections you can make with this name or person (maybe you know someone else with the same name). 

After the information has been encoded, it goes to storage so that we can recall, or use it later. This is what most people think about when they talk about memory.

The effect between short-term and long-term memory

There are two types of storage. When you first encounter something new, first, this information goes to your short-term memory. From here, it is either forgotten or, if needed and stored correctly, goes to your long-term memory. 

Short-term memory is very brief (hence the name!), lasting 15-30 seconds and can hold between 5 and 9 (the average number is 7) items of information. Your short-term memory is at work when you do something like read a list of words and then immediately repeat them. It helps you to quickly obtain the information you need at the moment, while you are performing a task, but it’s highly likely you will forget this information afterwards. 

Our long-term memory has a much longer time span (from a few minutes to a lifetime) with practically unlimited capacity. For information to be transferred from your short-term memory into your long term memory, you need to repeat it or interact with it at least a few times. 

The final step of the process is retrieval. This is where you access information stored in your memory. There are two different types of retrieval: recall and recognition. When you recognize something, you have some form of a clue that helps you retrieve information. You can often quite easily recognize new vocabulary when you are reading a text. But recalling it without any cues when you need to produce it in a conversation can be much harder. 

Here’s a fun video to help bring the process of memory to life.

Why do we forget? 

One of the main reasons for forgetting is actually failing to retrieve information. So, the information may still be somewhere there in your brain, but, you just can’t access it. 

In 1885, a German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted an experiment in which he tested how well he remembered a list of nonsense syllables over increasingly longer periods of time. Using the results of his experiment, he created what is now known as the ‘Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve’.  

He found out that the forgetting curve is exponential in nature. After you have just learned something, memory retention is 100%. However, it drops rapidly to 40% within just a few days. After that, the declination of memory retention slows down again. 

He also found out that if you repeat or practice something a lot, the information is stored more strongly and the forgetting curve becomes much more shallow. Basically, you are faced with a use-it-or-lose-it situation, and the first few days are absolutely essential. 

Here’s a little explainer video to show The Forgetting Curve process.

So, what can you do to improve your memory?

With the following 10 super effective memory hacks, you’ll learn how to memorize vocabulary, store it in your memory longer, and retrieve it easier. 

Let’s dive in!

10 Proven Memory Hacks: How to Memorize New Vocabulary Faster 

1. Use spaced-repetition

As we’ve seen above, repetition is key to storing information in long-term memory. Spaced repetition is a popular method with polyglots and the language learning community in general.

Spaced repetition works by presenting you with information right before you forget it to make sure that it stays fresh in your mind. You don’t mindlessly repeat information over and over again; you repeat it across increasing intervals of time. 

For example, say you’ve learned some Italian greetings and other useful Italian phrases before your trip to Italy. You repeat them a few minutes later, then a few hours, then a day, then a few days, then a week…You get the idea! 

Spaced repetition is designed to ‘fight’ the forgetting curve and trains your brain by ‘lifting heavier and heavier weights’ so you can recall information at longer intervals. 

One of the first spaced-repetition algorithms was the Leitner flashcard system. The system was based on paper flashcards (does anyone still make those?) that in the process of learning were divided into different levels and placed into different boxes. Flashcards of different levels were repeated with a different frequency. For instance, Level 1 cards every day, Level 2 cards every two days, Level 3 cards every four days, Level 4 cards every eight days, and so on. 

The Leitner system can be quite cumbersome and laborious: not only do you need to make vocabulary cards, but to find some boxes to store them in, as well as to remember to move cards from level to level as you learn the words and phrases. Fortunately, nowadays you don’t have to do this. Various websites and language learning apps were created with the use of spaced repetition to help you memorize vocabulary more effectively.

Here are a few examples: Memrise, Anki, Quizlet, TinyCards, Memorion, Traverse. These apps may differ from each other slightly, but the main idea of spaced repetition is there. Most of them are free or have a free version – try them out for yourself and see which one you like better. 

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Related: Memrise vs Duolingo: Which Language App is Best For You?

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2. Convert new words to pictures

We are visual creatures. About 80-90% of the information we absorb is visual. A large percentage of us (65-80%) are visual learners. We recall information supported by images much more effectively. So, why not use images and visual learning to memorize vocabulary? 

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Related: What type of language learner are you?

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Here’s one of the ways you can do it. Look at the word you want to remember. Does it remind you of something? Do the characters look like or resemble a similar word in your native language or another language you know?

Some languages have done part of the job for you. If you are learning Chinese or Japanese, there are some characters that are based on real objects and actually look like them. Here is the Japanese character that means tree: 木. It may not be the way you would draw a tree, but it is pretty easy to convert this character into a memorable mental image. 

Let’s take a look at another example. The Spanish word for ‘bench’ is ‘banco’, which is very similar to the word ‘bank’. The solution is simple: draw a mental picture of a bench near a bank, and you’ll have no problem remembering this word. The Spanish word for ‘cat’ is ‘gato’ and it is quite similar to its English equivalent – you can also imagine the letter ‘g’ being the curled tail of this furry pet. 

To sum it up, the main idea behind this technique is to draw a mental picture based on the word’s shape, meaning, and/or sound. Creating this additional association with the word will help you store it in your memory longer and recall it easier.

3. Create your own ‘Memory Palace’

Memory palace – sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Well, it is also a powerful way to memorize vocabulary. 

The technique was developed by ancient Greeks, but it doesn’t make it any less effective. Many people use it today to remember all sorts of information such as cards in a game of poker, names at a party, formulas needed for an exam, grocery lists, and, of course, vocabulary. 

A memory palace is a place you visualise in your mind where you can store mnemonic images and other information. It doesn’t have to be an actual palace – in fact, it works much more effectively if you imagine a place that you know well, like your home or office. 

Creating a memory palace works by creating a strong association of the word with an image and, in this case, a physical location. 

Here’s how you build a memory palace:

1. Imagine a place you know well in your mind, like your home or office.
2. Map your way through it: entering the front door, walking along the corridor, entering rooms, etc. Imagine the furniture you see on your way and other objects.
3. Take a list of what you need to memorize – say, some new vocabulary – and place the items or words along your way. 
4. To make it even more memorable, make the objects and words you remember interact with the location and create other associations if possible. For instance, ‘el gato’ (the cat) can meet you at the gate scratching at the gate-post. 

Try it out! I’m sure the memory palace you build will be like no other – and that it will help you memorize vocabulary really well.

Watch this video by Joshua Foer to learn how to create your own memory palace.

Also worth checking out is his popular TED talk

4. ‘Stack’ your words with the Stacking Method.

A stack is a neatly arranged pile of objects put one on top of the other. You probably have at least one stack in your home: a stack of plates, books, DVDs, papers. But what does it have to do with memorizing vocabulary? 

You can also ‘stack’ information items to remember them better. Stacking works great with memorizing lists, like a grocery list, but it is also great for memorizing vocabulary, especially vocabulary on the same topic or united by some context. 

This method also relies on vivid visualization, but in this case, you don’t just create a vivid image for each vocabulary unit – you literally stack them one on top of the other.

Let us say you need to learn the names of some kitchen utensils in Italian. Start with a ‘tazza’, or ‘cup’. Imagine it vividly in your mind, the way it looks, the kind of shape it has. Then put a ‘piatto’ (plate) on top of the ‘taza’. What’s next? Maybe, a ‘forchetta’ (fork)? ‘Put’ it on the ‘piatto’ vertically and then try to balance something on it. 

It may sound just a tiny bit absurd, but it works! Creating a vivid image of a stack of ‘piatti’ (dishes) in your mind will help you remember the words better through a strong association. The more absurd the image, the better, as it’ll be more memorable to you.

The only drawback to this technique is that it puts the vocabulary units in a particular order, and retrieving them in any other order will be a bit harder.

5. Create fun mnemonics

Mnemonic devices or mnemonics are various techniques that help you store information in long-term memory and retrieve it more effectively. Mnemonics are based on creating meaningful associations with the information by using things such as images, memorable phrases, short poems, or even kinesthetic forms. 

Mnemonics work by building connections with the word. It becomes not just a word from a foreign language, but a concept connected to an image, a joke, a song, or something else. The stronger this image and this connection are, the better mnemonic devices work.

There are different kinds of mnemonics that you can use to memorize vocabulary:

• Acronyms or Expression Mnemonics – Take the first letters from the words that you need to remember and build a word or an acronym with them. For example, you can remember the points of the compass – North, East, West, and South – with the acronym ‘NEWS’. You can also take other words that begin with the same first letters and make a whole phrase with them. For instance, you can use the phrase ‘PLEASE EXCUSE MY DEAR AUNT SALLY’ to remember the names of mathematical operations: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, and Subtract.
• Music Mnemonics – Remembering lyrics to a song is much easier than just remembering a text. The rhyming and the melody makes it easier to remember and also more fun. I can bet you still remember some nursery rhymes from your childhood. Do you remember the ‘ABC song’? This is an example of a music mnemonic. 
• Rhyming Mnemonics –  Things that rhyme are easier and more fun to remember as well. Here is an example of a rhyming mnemonic you can use to remember the number of days in each month of the year:30 days hath September, April, June, and November.
  All the rest have 31
  Except February my dear son.
  It has 28 and that is fine
  But in Leap Year it has 29.

• The Rhyming Peg System – The Peg system uses visual imagery to create a ‘hook’ or ‘peg’ from which to ‘hang’, or associate, your memories. It works like linking words that sound alike to create new associations. When they rhyme they tend to be more effective, but it’s not essential.. (11) See if you can remember this short list of words (say the numbers out loud): 

1. 1. Bun 
   2. Shoe 
   3. Tree
   4. Door
   5. Hive
   6. Sticks
   7. Heaven
   8. Gate
   9. Vine
   10. Hen

These are just a few examples. There are many more varieties of mnemonics and you can even mix and match them to create your own personal associations. 

Mnemonics can be used to learn the alphabet, vocabulary, grammar, and other aspects of the language. 

For example, many French students mix up these two common French prepositions – ‘au dessus’ (above), and ‘au dessous’ (below). Since they are similar in spelling, how can you remember them? By using a mnemonic, of course! 

A phrase you can use to help you remember the difference is: ‘If in the air you see a bus, it must be ‘au dessus’. If on the ground you see a mouse, it must be ‘au dessous’.’ 

Sound bizarre? That’s exactly why you’ll never mix up these two prepositions again!

This video perfectly explains how mnemonics work.

6. Share and Teach Others with The Protégé Effect

There’s an old Latin proverb that the best way to learn something, is to teach it to someone else. “By teaching, we learn,” – Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC – 65 AD). This is also known as The Protégé Effect.

Does this really work and, if so, how? If we refer back to how our memory works, recalling information is one of the key processes involved in memorizing something. The more you use and interact with the information, the more effectively you’ll remember it. So, by teaching others and sharing your knowledge in a meaningful way, you’re actually helping to solidify your knowledge into your long-term memory.

Share with someone you know what you’ve learned. Let them ask you questions about it. This will help you identify not only practice what you’ve learned but also to make sure you’ve understood it yourself. No one home? Explain it to your “gato” (cat)! 

This works even if you’re a beginner. When you share your knowledge with other beginners, you’re not only consolidating for yourself what you’ve learned, but are building friendships and also more opportunities to recall this new information. Not only that, but learning together is fun too!

7. Always write it down

Very few people write things down nowadays. Let’s be honest, most of our lives are documented in an electronic format, either on our phones or laptops. There’s nothing wrong with this, but when it comes to actually remembering things, it’s much more effective to write things down. That’s right, using a pen and paper will actually help you remember more.  Why is this?

The Association for Psychological Science states that, “there is something about typing that leads to mindless processing. And there is something about ink and paper that prompts students to go beyond merely hearing and recording new information…”. 

One of the reasons why writing things down is so effective is because it requires more in-depth processing. We often summarize things into our own words too, which only adds to our interaction with the information. But it doesn’t stop there. The way we choose to organize information on the page, such as which parts to highlight to make them more visible also requires additional processing. 

Making good notes quite often means you don’t even need to refer to them later because you’ve already processed the material when you wrote them! 

Try it out! The next time you sit down to study, close Google docs, and physically write down what you’re learning. I guarantee you’ll retain more.

8. Memorise with little effort using The Goldlist Method

The Goldlist Method is another technique that is based on writing things down and popular with polyglots. The Goldlist Method works by writing down lists of expressions you want to learn in a notebook. Then, at least two weeks later, you copy them again, sorting out the expressions that you remember from those you don’t. As if by magic, you’ll see that you’ve remembered 30% of the expressions from each list without ever having studied them! No bad, right?! 

How to use the The Goldlist Method:

1. Divide a page into 4 sections, A, B, C, and D. In section A, write down a list of 20 vocabulary units you want to memorize. Read every phrase and its translation out loud. Put this list aside and “forget” about it, for now.
2. Over the next 13 days, create new lists with 4 new sections. 
3. On day 15, go back to the 1st list (Step 1) and test yourself by covering up the translation of the items into your native language. You will see that you remember about 30% – about 6 words/phrases from it. Copy the remaining 14 words into section B. 

You probably see where this is going. You repeat the process with all the other lists, then go back to the first one and do it all again. According to David James, the creator of the method, as long as you are relaxed and enjoying the process, you will naturally pick up a few items into your long-term memory each time. For the items you don’t remember, you simply learn on the next round. 

Watch this fantastci video by Lýdia Machová who explains how to use The Goldlist Method.

9. Focus makes progress!

So many things distract us throughout the day and that can keep us from really focusing learning languages. Do your best to cut out as many distractions as possible whenever you want to dedicate some time to learning your target language. If you’re at home, explain to members of your household that you need this time to study. If you are somewhere in public, try noise-canceling headphones or listening to relaxing ambient music to help you drown out the noises. Put your phone away or, if you are using a mobile app to learn, turn off all notifications quickly by switching to night mode. 

When you are focused and engaged, when you pay attention to what you are learning, you will retain much more from the learning session compared to when you are constantly distracted.

10. Combine words with images with Dual Coding 

Dual coding is where you combine both visual and verbal information. Developed by Allan Paivio of the University of Western Ontario in 1971, Paivio based his method on the idea that the formation of mental images aids learning. For example, you store the concept of a ‘cat’ in your mind as both the word and an image of a cat, and you can retrieve them together, or separately. 

Here are some examples of using dual coding in language learning: 

• Drawing out a historical timeline of events
• Using comics or storyboards to remember stories and texts 
• Visual note-taking with part of the information presented as images
• Flashcards that include images
• Visual cues used during quizzes 

As you’ve seen in the previously mentioned memory tips in,  creating visual associations are a really powerful tool which is why dual coding is so effective.

Have you ever used a visual dictionary with high-quality images illustrating each word? That’s dual coding!

Need help improving your memory?

If you’re lost in the weeds when it comes to effectively learning new words, check out the Your Solid Vocab Memory. This online was developed by my friend Kerstin Cable, an experienced language learner and teacher who really knows her stuff.  I always follow Kerstin’s tips, and this course is excellent. If you feel the need to stop chasing your tail and remember any word easily, take a look at Your Solid Vocab Memory.

This course has been one of my favourite resources of the year because it teaches you how to learn and remember vocab in 3 simple steps:

• GROW your word list with strategic goal setting and a solid system for taking notes in seconds
• MEMORIZE any word, even the ones you forget all the time, in less than a minute
• REVIEW with fun and easy methods, not overwhelming lists and card decks

Check out Your Solid Vocab Memory here – I know you’ll love it!

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• How to Get Fluent: 9 Reasons You’re Not Fluent…YET! [& What To Do Instead]
• 18 Unexpected Advantages & Health Benefits of Learning A Foreign Language
• 23 Cool Gift for Language Learners They Will Actually Use and Love
• Memrise vs Duolingo: Which Language App is Best For You?
• Mondly Review: 10 Ways Mondly Drastically Improved My Language Learning
• 203 Most Beautiful Untranslatable Words [The Ultimate List: A-Z]
• 6 Language Learning Tips: How to Learn a Language from Home
• What Type of Language Learner Are You? Your 4-Step Personalised Learning Plan
• 44 Best Movies on Disney Plus for Learning Languages
• 13 Ways to Seamlessly Integrate Language Learning into Your Daily Life
• 10 Pro Tips: How to Learn a Language with a Full-Time Job
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• Essential Travel Phrases: How to be Travel Fluent in 10 Simple Steps
• How to Learn Your First Foreign Language in 8 Simple Steps: A Beginner’s Guide
• 11 Life-Changing Reasons Why You Should Learn a Language
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• 78 FREE Dictionaries to Learn a Language Fast [Free eBook Download]
• 22 KEY Travel Phrases That Will Transform Your Travels [Free Guide]

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Over to you!

Which one of these memory tips and hacks will you try first? What is your current method for learning languages. Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation. Remember, if you haven’t already done so, find out what type of language learner you are here.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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There are many word lists for general and academic English study. This page gives information on
why word lists are important, then presents ideas about
how to use word lists.

There is a companion page in this section which gives
a detailed overview of the many different word lists available for academic English study.

Why are word lists important?

One reason word lists are important is they enable learners to narrow the focus of what to study.
English is estimated to have around 1 million words, with around 170,000 words in current use. The average native speaker knows between 20,000 and 35,000
words. These are daunting totals for learners of English. However, some words are more frequent than others. The most common 10 words in English account for
around 25% of language use (this figure is similar across all languages). The most frequent 100 words account for around 50%, while the most frequent
2000 words cover approximately 80% of words in texts. Word lists therefore provide students with an efficient way to focus on the vocabulary they need in
order to understand or produce texts.

Word lists are also important since they provide a clear starting point. Learners often know they need to improve their vocabulary, but do not know
where to begin, while teachers may not focus on vocabulary except in an incidental (i.e. accidental) way, for example when difficult words are encountered
in a text. Word lists enable students and teachers to decide which words in a text deserve particular attention, such as academic words, as well as
providing them with a list that can be worked through systematically.

Word lists also provide a clear end point. By knowing which words should be studied during a period of time (a week, a month, or an entire course),
it is possible to set vocabulary learning goals and measure vocabulary growth.

Academic word lists are important since academic words may be new
and challenging for students, but may not be taught by subject teachers. This is in contrast to
technical words, which, because of their importance and specialist nature,
are likely to be explained by teachers. Academic vocabulary is usually defined as words which are used more frequently in academic than in non-academic
English texts, and without word lists learners may be unsure of precisely which words are used more commonly in academic English.

Word lists are also important for teachers, since they enable them to analyse and modify texts for classroom use, and to design suitable courses.

In short, word lists allow students and teachers to:

• narrow the focus of what vocabulary to study;
• know where to start studying;
• know what the end point is;
• set vocabulary learning goals;
• assess vocabulary knowledge and growth;
• identify important words which may not be taught.

In addition, word lists allow teachers to:

• analyse texts;
• modify texts for classroom use;
• design courses.

How can word lists be used?

Word lists are most often used by teachers when designing courses or creating lessons. However, students studying independently
also have many options available for using lists to improve their vocabulary knowledge.

Word lists are often big, daunting lists, containing hundreds or thousands of words. One tip for using word lists is to break them
down into more manageable lists. Some lists are presented in this way, for example the
AWL (Academic Word List), which is divided into 10 lists (called sublists) of 60 words each (30 for the
final list). Many other lists are not divided into sublists; however, if the lists are ranked by frequency, students or teachers can divide up the lists
themselves, for example by creating a certain number of equal sized sublists (e.g. 10 sublists), or dividing the list into sublists of equal size
(e.g. 50 words in each). It is always best to start studying the most frequent words first, since these are the one which will be encountered most often.

If the list will be used to assess learning, it is important to ensure that it is fully covered, and there are two approaches to this.
The first and simplest is the series approach, which involves going through the list systematically, e.g. learning all words in sublist 1 of the AWL
before moving on to sublist 2. The second approach is the field approach, which involves learning words from the list as they
occur in reading or listening texts. The second approach is more suited to teachers, who can modify texts to ensure there is complete coverage of the list
in a course of study. Students, however, could also use the field approach, for example by keeping a record of which words they have
encountered in a text, though at a certain point, they would have to switch to a series approach to ensure they learn the remaining words, since the
number of new words from the list which occur in new texts will steadily decrease to zero or almost zero. For example, if you have learned 569 words in
the AWL, you may need to read dozens of texts before encountering the final word, which would not be an efficient use of time.

Whether studying words by a series or field approach, it is useful to assess knowledge of words, either formally through testing, or informally by
self-assessment. This can be done before, during or after learning. If self-assessing, the following scale could be used, which would then guide further study.

There are various reading activities that can be used to increase knowledge of vocabulary. They include jigsaw reading (students read different
parts of the same text, then share their knowledge), narrow reading (students read multiple texts on the same topic, then discuss or write about
the topic) and close reading (students read and reread texts to increase knowledge and understanding). These activities are more effective for
technical word lists, since if discussing a topic such as photosynthesis students will need to use relevant technical vocabulary in
order to describe it; however, if discussing a text which has the target words analyse, concept and data (from AWL sublist 1), students could
very well do this using other words, unless specifically directed to use them, e.g.: Summarise what you just read. Include these words in your summary:
analyse, concept, data.

There are many hands-on tools that students can use to identify and study words from word lists. These include:

• word list highlighters, such as
  the AWL highlighter on this site, which allows for manipulation of sublists and creation of a gapfill activity, which can be used to test vocabulary knowledge;
• the ACL mind map creator, which provides a useful way to explore collocations of individual words in the
  ACL (Academic Collocation List);
• a vocabulary profiler, which not only identifies words in different lists e.g. GSL vs. AWL,
  but also shows percentages of words in each.

The last item, a vocabulary profiler, is a useful tool for teachers, who can use it to grade texts to control the number of new or challenging words.
It is also for students, who can appraise their own writing and see how many words and what type they have used. For example,
since the AWL accounts for around 10% of words in academic texts, students can use a vocabulary profiler to see how close (or how far) their own writing
is from this target (though it should be emphasised that this is a rough guide, and not something they should aim for by forcing AWL words into their writing).

Unless a word is only needed for reading comprehension, it is going to be important for students to study
information about the word other than its definition before they can be confident that they ‘know’ the word. This includes
pronunciation (for comprehension while listening or use in speaking), word family information (for flexible use in writing or speaking, or recognition in
reading), and information about collocations and how the word is used in a sentence, for example:

• to have an effect on
• to contribute to (sth)
• to play a role in (sth)

For words in the AWL, much of this information can be gained from the
AWL finder (on this site). Often,
use of a dictionary will be essential.

It will also be important for students to use
vocabulary notebooks to record important information in order to review it later and
consolidate vocabulary knowledge. Notebooks could be physical or electronic. Students can return to their notebook to add more information about a word
if they encounter it again. Teachers can encourage notebook use by giving tests which allow students to access their notebooks.

In short, the following are useful ways students or teachers could use word lists:

• break down lists into smaller lists, and focus on studying the most frequent words first;
• ensure the list is fully covered by using a series approach (e.g. AWL sublist 1, then sublist 2);
• ensure the list is fully covered by using a field approach, e.g. by modifying texts (teachers) or keeping a record of which words have been encountered (students);
• test students on vocabulary knowledge (teachers) or self-assess in order to know which words to study in more detail (students);
• use communicative reading activities (esp. for technical word lists);
• use hands-on tools such as word list highlighters, the ACL mind map creator, or vocabulary profilers;
• study detailed information of a word, using a dictionary or other tools;
• keep a detailed vocabulary notebook.

Summary

In short, there are many
reasons word lists are important, ranging from narrowing the focus of what vocabulary to study to assessing
vocabulary knowledge and growth. In addition, although word lists may have a negative connotation, being linked to rote learning, there are many
useful and engaging activities that both teachers and students can use to focus on appropriate target vocabulary.

For more information on individual word lists, check out the
overview of word lists page, which includes a summary of the most important general, academic, and technical word lists.

References

Greene, J.W. and Coxhead, A. (2015) Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students. Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks Publishing Company.

Nation, I.S.P (2016) Making and Using Word Lists for Language Learning and Testing. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.



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Like the website? Try the books. This extract from Unlock the Academic Wordlist: Sublists 1-3 contains all sublist 1 words, plus exercises, answers and more!

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).

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:

#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:

#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.

#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.

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:

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:

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

#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.

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

Best Wordle starting words

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If you’re seeing green and yellow squares every time you close your eyes, chances are you have a slight obsession with Wordle. The latest mini-game to take over the Internet has plenty of us guessing five-letter words in as few tries as possible, and boy is it a hit. The team here at TheSmartLocal hasn’t been spared from the addictive daily quiz either.

To uphold our reputation as wordsmiths, we decided to find out which are the best words to start Wordle with. Thankfully, plenty of data scientists – who are equally addicted – have done research into the most optimised five-letter word for us. Here are 10 of the most efficient starters for your next Wordle round.

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1. Crane

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Wordle’s all about probability, and that involves numbers. Thankfully, popular maths YouTuber Grant Sanderson did all the work to calculate how “CRANE” is the best opener. The New York Times’ WordleBot also deduced that “CRANE” is the best opening word in normal mode.

Reason: Grant calculated which starting word would give you the lowest average guesses using the Wordle answer sheet, while the NYT used a sample of 4,500 commonly-used English words to get their results.

Best second word: SLIPT

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2. Salet

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Mathematician Alex Selby devised an algorithm that determined “SALET” is the best word to start Wordle off.

Reason: Alex’s algorithm determined that Salet took the least average guesses of 3.4212 to guess the word of the day. Popular math YouTube Grant Sanderson from the popular Crane video also corroborated this conclusion with a follow-up analysis.

Best second word: CRONY

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3. Soare

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Wordle’s all about probability, and that involves numbers. More than seven million people watched YouTuber Grant Sanderson’s video on why Crane is the best Wordle starting word. Unfortunately, he got one tiny detail wrong and uploaded a follow-up video naming “SOARE” as the best opener instead.

Reason: Grant calculated which starting word would give you the lowest average guesses using the Wordle answer sheet and determined Soare is the best single-try opener. Yes, all the answers for Wordle are already figured out, but where’s the fun in that?

Best second word: CLINT

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4. Trace

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Data analysts have also entered the chat. Researcher Daniel Kats analysed the Wordle dictionary and arrived at “TRACE” as the word with the lowest average guesses to solve.

Reason: Based on his analysis of an asymmetric dataset, Daniel found that Trace took an average of 3.58 guesses to solve.

Best second word: SULLY

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5. Serai

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Another word from Daniel’s analysis and his pocket pick for a starter is “SERAI.” 

Reason: S is the most common letter amongst all five-letter words, plus it is also the most common as a first and last letter.

Best second word: POUTY

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6. Arose

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Another YouTuber MrExcel.com who specialises in Excel and statistics looked at 8,000 five-letter Scrabble words and ended up with “AROSE.” 

Reason: A, E, O, R, and S are the letters most commonly found in his analysis of words, and together they spell “arose.” Another option to start off is “ARISE.”

Best second word: JUICY

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7. Tales

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Being an expert in something requires experience, and a professor called Barry Smyth found a way to shortcut this by using a Wordle simulator. He ran a million games through it – more than we’ll play in a lifetime – and found that “TALES” was the best single word.

Reason: From 2,500 possible five-letter words, this simulation found that “TALES” had a success rate of over 95% averaging 3.66 rounds when using just one word to start the game.

Best second word: CRONY

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8. Cones

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If you’re okay with using at least two rounds to solve the word of the day, “CONES” is the second-best word Professor Barry found success with in his simulation.

Reason: “CONES” had a higher solve rate of 96% when paired with Trial as the second word. Using both words to kick off your daily Wordle will help you solve it in an average of 3.68 rounds.

Best second word: TRAIL

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9. Hates

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Another word coming out from the professor’s simulation is “HATES.” Players who guess it first, followed by “ROUND” and then “CLIMB” would see a higher success rate.

Reason: While you might only guess the word on the fourth try, using Hates, then Round, and then Climb help you solve it 97% of the time.

Best second word: ROUND
Best third word: CLIMB

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10. Audio

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“AUDIO” is a community favourite that we’ve seen said by many as their go-to starting word.

Reason: It checks off four different vowels and it’s a commonly-used term.

Best second word: STERN

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11. Adieu

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No, we didn’t forget about “ADIEU,” but it’s not as efficient of a word as you might think.

Reason: Like Audio, you can find out if the daily Wordle has any vowels immediately. However, it’s not that common of a word, and you should only use it if your strategy involves getting vowels and common consonants out of the way.

Best second word: SNORT

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Other good starting words to use for Wordle

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• Dealt
• Roate
• Store
• Stare
• Pious
• Ouija
• Aisle
• Ocean
• About

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Tips to guess Wordle’s word

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Think simple and common. Of the 13,000 words that you can key into Wordle, only 2,315 are possible answers as they are common words, not “aargh.” You can also try to hit common consonants like R, S, and T as it might benefit you more than vowels. While you’re at it, remember that letters can repeat, so don’t be afraid to guess “BUNNY” or “HAPPY.” The New York Times even developed WordleBot to help analyse your answers and give you advice for future Wordles.

If all else fails, you can turn to Unwordle. This website tells you the best word to guess next. It kind of goes against the spirit of Wordle, so use this only as a last resort if you can’t think of a word anymore!

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Best words to start Wordle with

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Everyone I’ve spoken to has a different strategy when it comes to Wordle. Some people start with a different word every day, while others are determined to guess it in the least attempts possible. There’s no right or wrong way to play the game, but if you’re in the “minimum effort, maximum reward” camp, here’s a list that will keep your Wordle streak going.

Check out similar articles:

• Play Squabble with your friends
• Free online multiplayer games
• Unique board and card games

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Originally published on 11th February 2022. Last updated by Josiah Neo on 19th April 2022.

Words are powerful – they have the ability to inspire, motivate, uplift and spur action. If you’ve been feeling uninspired, then read through this inspirational words list, which includes over 100 single inspirational words that will inspire you.

These inspiring words can help to spark that inner flame – the one that inspires you to get up and move, create, and thrive.

• Abundance
• Accomplish
• Achieve
• Activate
• Adroit
• Affirm
• Align
• Amplify
• Balanced
• Becoming
• Begin
• Belong
• Best
• Bliss
• Blossom
• Bold
• Boundless
• Brilliant
• Bright
• Capable
• Celebrate
• Confident
• Connect
• Courageous
• Daring
• Declare
• Deserving
• Discover
• Dream
• Dynamic
• Effective
• Endurance
• Energetic
• Emerge
• Establish
• Flexible
• Flow
• Focus
• Fresh
• Fulfill
• Fortune
• Generous
• Genuine
• Glowing
• Graceful
• Grateful
• Growth
• Harmony
• Healing
• Honorable
• Hope
• Illuminate
• Impact
• Infinite
• Initiative
• Innovate
• Insightful
• Inspirational
• Joyful
• Kindness
• Knowledge
• Legacy
• Liberate
• Light
• Loyalty
• Luminous
• Opportunity
• Originality
• Overflowing
• Passion
• Peace
• Perseverance
• Persistance
• Possibility
• Power
• Prosperity
• Quest
• Queen
• Radiant
• Rapturous
• Respect
• Savvy
• Serendipity
• Shine
• Soul
• Sublime
• Subliminal
• Strong
• Succeed
• Tenacious
• Thankful
• Triumphant
• Unique
• Unlimited
• Uplifting
• Valiant
• Vast
• Victorious
• Vivacious
• Wealthy
• Worthy
• Wild
• X-Factor
• Yes
• Zeal
• Zen
• Zestful

How to Use This Inspirational Words List

When you’re reading through this list of inspiring words, take note of the words that jump out or spark something inside of you. It can be helpful to have a notebook with you to write them down.

You can choose one word to be your “word of the day/month/year.” Two more way to use this inspirational words list are to choose the words that resonate with you and write positive affirmations or as self-care journal prompts.

For example, a positive affirmation using four of the inspiring words listed above might be:

“I am a capable, courageous person and my life is overflowing with abundance.”

When you’re writing in your self-care journal, pick a word from the list above and journal about how you can make that word a reality in your life. For example:

“Passion – I am going to set aside two hours every week to pursue my passion, which is watercolor painting. This weekend, I am going to order a new set of watercolor paints and paintbrushes.”

Resources related to “Inspirational Words”

• 50 Self-Care Journal Prompts With Printable PDF

My name is Ash and I’m the founder of High Vibes Haven. I have been studying numerology, angels, and angel numbers for over 20 years. I am passionate about helping people recognize signs from their guardian angels, understand the hidden meanings of numbers in their life, and learn more about the secrets of the universe.