LESSONS
Special Techniques You Can Use To Increase Vocabulary
There are so many words in the dictionary, you might be wondering where to start! Some people spend all of their time just going through the dictionary and learning words, but this is not the most effective way to learn vocabulary. Don't be intimidated by the number of words in the English language, or you might be discouraged and think you'll never learn them all. However, even though dictionary-only study is not the best way to increase vocabulary, by using the special techniques we describe below, you can increase vocabulary effortlessly and naturally.
Special Techniques To Increase Vocabulary
1. Reading and documenting
Reading is the easiest way to absorb new vocabulary words. When you read, your eyes quickly pass over the words and your brain automatically assigns meaning to them using context clues, or by association with other words you already know. Because the meaning of a sentence can often be understood through context clues, you might not need to get your dictionary to check the meaning of the words you are not familiar with. This will help you skim through your reading material quickly, but you probably won't remember those unfamiliar words or be able to use them later.
When you're reading, it's important to write these words down and check their meaning in the dictionary, whether at the time you're reading or later. Although there are context clues, some words have multiple definitions and might give a different meaning to the phrase. Keep a pen and paper handy and jot down the words you are not familiar with as you go along. You can also add your interpretations of the words by noting the definition you assumed given the context of the sentence. Later on, you can check your dictionary and find out if you are correct in your interpretations.
2. Elaboration
Don't just learn the basic definition of a word. Link it to events, things, and people around you. It is easy to forget a word if you merely memorize the meaning. Get the whole concept of the word instead, and you'll have more ways to remember it. You can also use synonyms to elaborate on the word. Let's say you come across the word "reflect". There are two primary definitions of this word: "to show the image of something" and "to think seriously about something."
To help you remember these definitions, think of examples that can best describe each meaning of the word. "Reflection in the mirror" or "reflecting on the events of the day" might be example phrases you write down to help you memorize the correct use of the word in its different contexts
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3. Repeat the words
When you were a child, you learned language through repetition. In fact, you learned most of the things you know now through repetition. If you teach a baby to say "mama", the baby won't immediately catch on if you only say it once. You have to repeat it over and over again so the baby can learn the sound, identify it, associate it with the presence of the mother, and begin to practice the word themselves. Older people have better learning capacity because of more developed communication skills. However, repetition is still essential to increase vocabulary.
4. Relate it
Notice how easily you can remember things if they are related to your life somehow. For instance, it is easy to remember the name of a person who is related to a friend or a family member. It is easy to remember an occasion if it is related to what you have experienced in the past. If you want to increase vocabulary and not easily forget the words you learned, you need to find a way to relate those words into your personal experiences.
5. Imagery
This is very common way of increasing vocabulary. Our brain receives much of its information through the eyes and visual cortex, and by using images to link words to meaning it will make it easier for your brain to process, sort, classify, and store both the word and its definition.
NEXT LESSON: How To Increase Vocabulary Through Reading