LEARNING VOCABULARY
By Viv Quarry.
To learn vocabulary efficiently, you need efficient
organisation and regular revision.
Organisation
It has been proved that it is easier to remember words when
they are associated with other words in groups. This is why your
notebook is divided into different vocabulary sections. Always
identify a new word with it's part of speech (verb, noun,
adjective, adverb or preposition) separated by a margin. This
will help you locate the word in the future. Always put a
definition, either in English or in Portuguese, and if necessary,
put the pronunciation of the word using a different colour to
differentiate from the spelling.
Revision
Everyone
forgets words which have been learnt. The only way to learn new
vocabulary effectively is by regular revision. Imagine that
during your English class you learn ten words. During the next
three days, you will gradually forget most of the words until on
the third day you will only be able to remember two of the words.
These two words you will probably never forget, but the other
eight words will be lost. However, if on the third day you revise
the same words, you will briefly go back to knowing ten words.
Over the next three days, you will start forgetting the words
again, BUT by day seven you will be able to remember four of the
ten words, and these four you will never forget. If you repeat
the process three more times, you will know all ten words.
Some techniques for learning vocabulary
1. When you revise your vocabulary, don't just read the
words and their definitions. First cover the word and try
to remember it using the definition. Then, cover the
definition and try to remember what the word means. If
you can, ask a friend or member of your family to test
you (that way they may learn some English too!).2. Cut
out small squares of card. Write the word on one side and
its definition on the other. Keep the cards near you,
either in your pocket or in a small bag or box. When you
have time, take out a card. If you can remember the word
or definition, put it somewhere else. If not, look at it
and put it back in your pocket again. When there are no
more words left in your pocket, you have learnt them all.
3. Make the same small cards as in 2. Instead of
putting them in your pocket, fix them with selatape to
things around your apartment or bedroom eg. on a mirror
in the bathroom, beside the tv etc. Every time you see
the word you will be reminded what it means. When you can
remember, take the word off and put another one in its
place.
4. The computer can be very useful in learning new
words. Put the words into a table. This way you can sort
them alphabetically, and temporarily delete a column to
test yourself.
5. Record words, definitions & context sentences
on tape. Play the tape in your car driving to work.
6. Draw pictures to illustrate what words mean and use
different colours to write them.
Do you have any other ideas for
learning vocabulary? Let Viv know if you do.
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