Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary (Part 1)
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One striking feature that sets proficient English speakers apart from those less competent is their lexical range. Quite often they exhibit a near-magical ability to summon just the right kind of word or phrase, with the result that they convey with precision what they wish to say.
Considering that words are the basic blocks using which we give and receive information, the broader your lexical range gets the easier it becomes to communicate. Here are some handy tips to expand your vocabulary.
1. Read regularly!
Anyone who has tried to work on their vocabulary must’ve had this advice time and again. After all, reading is the most obvious way to learn new vocabulary, because it exposes you to the same words and phrases at regular intervals. That said, building vocabulary may not be a priority when you are reading interesting stuff. So, note down unfamiliar words while reading. Afterwards pick out useful ones you wish to learn. Remember, reading can also provide reinforcement. When you come across vocabulary you’ve learnt recently, and you understand what it means, it is proof enough that you have learnt it well.
A confusion that many learners face is deciding what to read and what not to. While there are no hard and fast rules, see to it that you pick materials that interest you. And if that happens to be a lowbrow magazine on fashion, so be it. What’s important is to choose something you find enjoyable, with a view to possibly learning new words.
2. Learn vocabulary in context
Some learners make the mistake of learning vocabulary in isolation. In other words, they try to learn a random collection of new words off by heart. Instead, learn vocabulary in chunks or sentences so that a context begins to appear, helping you understand when and how the word can be used. The added benefit is that this way you get introduced to a lot of new words at the same time.
If done the right way, building vocabulary can be enjoyable and beneficial.
GLOSSARY
| reinforcement | ||
| Form | : | noun |
| Meaning | : | the act of making an idea stronger |
| Example | : | Jokes can sometimes be a reinforcement of gender stereotypes. |
| hard and fast | ||
| Form | : | phrase |
| Meaning | : | not able to be changed |
| Example | : | There are no hard and fast rules about how a film should end. |
| lowbrow | ||
| Form | : | adjective |
| Meaning | : | lacking serious cultural or artistic value |
| Example | : | Although his books are quite popular, critics consider them to be lowbrow literature. |
| in isolation | ||
| Form | : | phrase |
| Meaning | : | separately |
| Example | : | Environmental damage cannot be considered in isolation, as it affects humans and animals. |
| by heart | ||
| Form | : | phrase |
| Meaning | : | to learn something so well that you are able to remember it without having to read it again |
| Example | : | Mike knows all the poems in his text book by heart. |