Lesson
How can I remember new words?
Create Your Own Vocabulary Notebook!
The Problem:
As English learners we all know that it’s not easy to actually remember the new words and expressions we pick up in class, the textbook, or from the movies we see. We get to writing something in English and suddenly don’t have the words we need. This can get pretty frustrating, especially when we later discover that these words were on the previous week’s vocabulary quiz!
The Solution:
Good language learners know that it’s important to be organized with their learning, from taking notes in class to having self-customized foreign language learning techniques. The best thing you could do for not losing the words you learn is simply to concentrate them in one place – the Vocabulary Notebook, big enough to include many words, but small enough to carry around.
Take words you marked in reading texts, words that came up in class discussions, or phrases you pick up in songs or on TV. Always remember where and when you encountered these words, as this context will help you remember them better.
8 Steps to Creating Your Vocabulary Notebook:
1. Draw a line on each page to divide it into 2 columns. Write the English word and phrases in the left column and translations into your own language on the right.
2. Always write the source for each new word list. The context (story, movie, song etc.) will help you.
3. Try to write your vocabulary items as phrases or short sentences with the words and prepositions used in the source. For example, for “He was aware of all the potential risks,” write in your lists the following terms: “to be aware of something” and “potential risks. Remembering vocabulary in phrases is more effective because you learn how the word is used in context.
4. Cover the right column with a sheet of paper and ask yourself what the English word on the left means. Pull the sheet one line down whenever you get it right. If you don’t mark the problem word and start over.
5. Do the opposite, from your language to English. It’s also good to say the words aloud!
6. Take your notebook everywhere you go you know you’ll have some time to kill: riding on the train or bus, waiting in line for the doctor, or even when going to the toilettes!
7. If you want to go further, search the dictionary to find different meanings for your target word and/or one useful expression and add these to your list. Don’t go overboard – only one extra meaning/expression. The sooner these appear in the definition, the more commonly used they are.
8. Review, review, review! And try to use the words in writing as much as possible. Checking grammar is important but not enough! Word variety in writing is no less important.
We hope our suggestions will help you!
This article was contributed by WhiteSmoke, leader in English writing software