Easy Ways to Learn Vocabulary
Combat Boredom and Speak any Foreign Language Faster!
Glancing over your vocabulary list is no way to remember it. Read on for some tried-and-tested active strategies that will enliven what can be pure drudgery!
Learning vocabulary is fundamental to mastering a foreign language - but it can be the world’s most boring activity. If you are desperate speak the lingo like a native but watching paint dry is not your idea of a good time, read on!
You may find one or two ways to learn vocabulary that you stick to, or you may prefer a variety to combat the boredom of learning lists of words, with all the accompanying gender confusion. What follows is applicable to any language you are learning.
Look, Cover, Write, Check
This is what every primary or elementary school child is taught. Make it less monotonous by using a variety of colours. For example make up a page like this:
La chaise = the chair
Le frigo= the fridge
(...and so on)
Write the top line in a different colour to the next, and repeat the alternate colour scheme down the page. This makes every line more distinct. Take a piece of paper and cover up all the English words. Move the paper down the list as you guess each word. Now repeat, covering the French words. This time, write out your guess on a separate piece of paper.
Post-Its
Take 5-10 words or phrases you need to learn. Write each one on a post-it, if possible with a picture or symbol (This uses both sides of the brain, and makes the most of your linguistic grey matter). Stick your post its around your home – anywhere is fine, as long as you will see your words regularly. Again, colour can help – why not use blue post-its for masculine nouns, and green for feminine? Every time you come across one of your notes, simply say the word out loud. After a week or so, change the notes. It is surprising how effective this effortless memory technique works.
Flippers/Krammers
Originally a Japanese idea, these neat little blank study cards held together on a ring is a firm favourite among many language learners. Simply write your target language word on one side, and the English on the reverse. Try the following activity:
- Make a pile of ten cards, with the target language side of each face up
- Pick up the first card and guess its English meaning.
- Check if you are correct, if so, put it to one side (the correct pile). If you are wrong, put it to the bottom of the pile.
- Continue until there are 10 cards in your correct pile. If there are any really stubborn words you cannot get right, make another card out. Rewriting the tricky word should help.
The great thing about this method is that you never get any words wrong as such (although you may get sick of the sight of some of them). It is a surprising tool for positive thinking about you as a successful language learner.
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Record Yourself
Your computer, Dictaphone, or even the humble tape recorder can be a great tool (and a refreshing change) when learning vocabulary, especially when your lexicon is swimming in front of your eyes. Read out the Spanish word/phrase, followed by its English equivalent. Repeat until you have had enough! Now play your recoding back, but press pause after each foreign word and say your guess out loud.
Remember: it is easier to learn what the foreign words mean in English before trying to say or write them in the target language.
Read the related article languagestudy.suite101.com/article.cfm/tips_for_learning_vocabulary
