Effective Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary in English
As we all know, when learning a new language, it’s not enough to focus solely on grammar. No matter how strong our grammar knowledge is, if our vocabulary is lacking, we struggle to use what we’ve learned. Many of you may have encountered this issue while learning English.
Based on my general observations from people around me who are learning English, I’ve noticed that many individuals have excellent grammar skills but struggle to hold conversations because they lack the necessary vocabulary. Therefore, it’s crucial to prioritize vocabulary acquisition during English language learning. The stronger your vocabulary, the better you can express yourself.
How Can You Expand Your Vocabulary?
First, let’s explore how to learn more words. One of the simplest methods, as we all know, is to write down unfamiliar words on a piece of paper and try to memorize them. Many of us have reached this stage, written down words we didn’t know, and attempted to memorize them by reading them several times. However, later on, some may have forgotten to review these new words or found it challenging to retain them. As a result, this method often leads to failure.
Fortunately, evolving technology offers us some relief from this problem. You can use mobile applications on your phone or tablet to improve your vocabulary more comfortably and enjoyably. Additionally, by setting various reminders within the app, you won’t forget to study, and with consistent repetitions, you’ll learn the words you want. We would also like to introduce you to Conquer English’s upcoming application for learning English words.
Another way to enhance your vocabulary is by flipping through English dictionaries. I recommend dictionaries that provide example sentences illustrating the usage of the words you’ve learned. This way, you not only understand the meaning of the word but also see how it fits into a sentence.
Once your vocabulary reaches a certain level, applying the methods mentioned above might become a bit tedious. Therefore, at this stage, you can try reading English books to further improve your vocabulary. Start with short stories without getting too hung up on unfamiliar words. While reading, underline words you don’t know but try not to immediately consult a dictionary. Instead, attempt to guess the meaning within the sentence context. After finishing the reading, compare your understanding with the dictionary’s definition. These comparisons will help the new words sink into your memory more effectively.
Engage in conversations with people. Another fun way to learn new words is to converse with native English speakers. During these interactions, you’ll notice that they use many words different from yours. Throughout your communication, try to learn the meanings of these words without overwhelming the person you’re talking to. This can significantly boost your vocabulary in no time.
How Can You Make Your New English Words Stick?
There’s one key recommendation to make these newly acquired English words stick: use them frequently. To achieve this, write short English compositions that incorporate the new words you’ve learned. Furthermore, during your English conversations, make an effort to use these new words at least three times. Keeping an English journal is one of the highly recommended methods. In this journal, write short pieces that include the new words you’ve learned. For now, these are my suggestions, and I wish you vocabulary-rich days ahead!