Ten Tips for learning vocabulary

Whatever language you are trying to learn it almost always comes down to learning vocabulary in order to get better.

That’s why a lot of our posts cover different ways to take what you know and expand on it. Today we have ten ways you can try in order to build your vocabulary.

1.  Don’t learn too many new words at once

Making a long list of words is not a good method. You will just get the definitions confused. Limit yourself to ten words at a time, and practice them. Once you know them, move on to the next ten.

2. Keep a vocabulary list

Make a list on paper or your phone (it has a Note pad for a reason), keep that list with you wherever you go. Make sure the list has a good structure to it though. When I am learning new words I use a table like this

Word	Word  Family	Sentence
English	Noun	Learning English is hard.

NOTE: Add a translation if you want, but as you improve it’s not a good idea. Words don’t always have exactly the same meaning, and you will miss some small differences.

3. Use your words in a sentence

You can remember meanings much easier when you have context. Don’t just make any sentence though, personalize it.

4. Use a dictionary

Obvious I know, but have you considered going back in time and getting a paper dictionary?

Why?

Highlight the word you are learning, and then in the future you can look through the dictionary to review what you know. As good as dictionary Apps are, they can’t help you review like this.

5. Test yourself

There are hundreds of tests online and on Apps. Also if you follow tip 4, then you can ask your friend to look through your dictionary and test you on the highlighted words.

6. Use the new word

To help you remember the word, repeat it at least 5 times in a row. Then do it again each day for the next four days, this will help keep it in your mind.

7. Use word families

You learn a new word, and then you should learn all the words in the family. If you learn the word ‘establish’, then learn 'establishment', 'establishing' and 'establisher'. This is a great way to expand your vocabulary.

8. Read more, and read different things.

Probably the best way to learn new words, and you will find them in new contexts too.

9. Use different ways to remember new words

Don’t just write down your new words, draw pictures, and make flash cards. Just the act of making them will help you remember the word

10. Read IELTS Triumph

In all seriousness every single thing we publish can help your vocabulary improve. It doesn’t matter if you are taking IELTS, read what we write about it, and learn some new words. It doesn’t matter if the idioms are not interesting to you, you will see words being used in context and it all helps.

IELTS Triumph

~ Every little helps ~

                                          

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