Vocabulary is the basic foundation of languages and vocabulary range and word usage can often be perceived as indicators of a person’s education level, social status, and profession. Whilst this is often inaccurate, it is still useful to expand your vocabulary in order to express yourself fluently and effectively. As you expand your vocabulary, you will become more precise with word usage both in writing and speaking. There are many different ways to expand your vocabulary and different methods work for different people.
Whether you are learning a new language or are looking for ways to improve your vocabulary in your native tongue, you can easily expand your range of vocabulary with these effective tips.
Play to Learn
Word games are not only fun to play but also incredibly helpful when it comes to building vocabulary. One really effective game is to create different words from letters on online unscramble games. These help you to expand your vocabulary under the pressure of limited letters and time. Playing word games allows you to discover new words and their meanings whilst also offering you the opportunity to practice them. Word games offer players great chances for vocabulary development and as well as online unscramblers, some suggested games include Scrabble, Boggle, and Words With Friends.
Read for an Hour Every Day
From novels to newspapers, the more time you spend reading, the more words you are exposed to. As you come across new words during your reading sessions, you should look up their definition based on the context of the sentence or paragraph. It is important that you read a variety of reading materials to be exposed to different topics and different types of vocabulary.
For example, reading daily newspapers is different from reading a magazine or a textbook. Studies have found that regular readers are highly expressive and interesting people as they have a wide range of vocabulary and broad knowledge.
Learn At Least Ten New Words Everyday
In language learning, students usually build their vocabulary with lists of frequently used words. Mastering a thousand basic words can enable learners to comprehend roughly ninety percent of the spoken language. Therefore, if you make it your goal to learn ten new words daily, you will know around a thousand words after merely three months. Nowadays, there are various applications and websites available on the Internet to help language learners to develop their own word lists without too much trouble.. These should consist of words that have a high usage frequency in daily life.
Acquire and Practice New Vocabulary in Context
Studies have shown that words are best learned in context rather than from lists of random words. Learning new words in context offers major benefits for language learners in a number of aspects including more effective word acquisition, better word recall, and a higher rate of word retention. One of the most effective ways to introduce and link new vocabulary in context is by using them in your own sentences. As well as using new vocabulary in your own sentences, you can also learn new words by listening to stories or acting out role plays using new vocabulary. This is a very common way that language learners practice. For example, the students learn restaurant vocabulary and then create a waiter and customer roleplay.
Use Flashcards
Using flashcards to learn new words is one of the most popular tactics among language learners. This is a time-efficient way to build up vocabulary as you can write down new words on flashcards, and then in an organized way, learn and revise your flashcards from time to time.
With the rise of technology and smart devices, there is a range of different software programs and applications that you can use to generate flashcards and organize them at your convenience. Depending on your goals, you can aim to learn ten new words per day or add more if you are making good progress.
Using Newly Acquired Words in Conversations
Many language learners make the mistake of learning new words without practical applications and frequent practices. Therefore, it is best that you avoid learning without using your new vocabulary. By using different words in daily situations, you can recall learned words and make sure you can effectively use them in common situations. Moreover, simply engaging in conversations with others can help you discover new words and their usages as well.
Language learners acquire new vocabulary through various methods of study including creating word lists and flashcards, reading books, and watching shows and movies. Depending on your goals and study styles, try out some of these tips and you will see some major improvements in your vocabulary.