Teachers are known to give out foreign language vocabulary lists for study and practice. Students may build up their own lists as they come across new words and phrases. But how, exactly, should these lists be created and studied? The steps below entail a bit more work than usual, but they should result in better word recall and a greater understanding of the vocabulary.
Build the Vocabulary List
Making one standardized list, rather than a series of smaller lists, helps one organize and simplify his or her language process. Rather than writing down words on paper, or getting a binder for new vocabulary, it often works better for one to create a computer spreadsheet. This way, words can be sorted in numerous ways (such as by their category or frequency of occurrence), and it’s possible to send and print the list.
Naturally, the list should include the word, its gender and its English translation, but two additional terms can make for a more effective spreadsheet. First, assigning each word a category (religion or transportation, for example) can help one prepare for a test or essay on a specific topic. Second, if each word is assigned a “frequency rating,” with more common words receiving a higher rating and less common words a lower one, the vocabulary can be sorted by its frequency. This allows one to study the most common words first, making for more efficient review.
It may help to keep a small notebook around when one is in a language class or language-speaking country; that way, he or she can write down words to enter in the spreadsheet later.
Study – but With Different Methods
The more one goes over a foreign word, the better his or her chance of remembering it. There are, however, a number of helpful ways to do such study.
The first is excellent for bulk memorization. Sort the vocabulary sheet as needed (by category, for example) and print it out. Next, cover up the foreign vocabulary side with a piece of paper and locate a pen. Test yourself on your knowledge of each word pair, marking those you get wrong with a dot.
After finishing one page or one set, go back and test yourself on the dotted ones. Add another dot to the pairs you still get wrong, then quiz yourself on those with two dots… and so on. This approach, in focusing your attention on the more difficult words, helps you spend your study time efficiently.
The second takes longer, but helps reinforce words through vocal or written practice. Select any of the two foreign words at random, then speak or write a sentence in which you use both of them. For example, if you had the German words Dachboden (attic) and Spielzug (toy), you could say something like, “Es gibt ein Spielzug in meinem Dachboden” (there is a toy in my attic.) If you find the exercise helpful, you could extend it out to three words - or even four.
Of course, it always helps to have a peer assist with vocabulary study – especially because that person, too will be learning in the process.
Keep Practicing Vocab Words
Word lists like this can help, but not if they go unused. Foreign language learners should make time in their schedule to practice old vocabulary and input new words. (Of course, if the student does not have a means for recording new words when they surface, he or she may not have a vocabulary list to begin with!)
Learning a new language should be exciting, not frustrating. Keeping an updated vocabulary list and studying it often can help accelerate one’s progress.
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