Vocabulary Building Techniques

Vocabulary is all about words the words in a language or a

special set of words you are trying to learn.Vocabulary is so
important, we even created a web site to help expand yours.

Simple Techniques For Helping Memorize

Vocabulary
1. Flash cards. Having been around for the longest time, almost everyone is familiar with
flash cards. Surviving the test of time isnt an easy feat and theyve done it for good
reason theyre simply one of the best tools ever devised for memorizing anything.
2. Hear, echo and associate. When you first encounter a word, the first thing to do is to
listen intently at the right way of pronouncing it. Then, repeat it to yourself loudly (you
can whisper if youre in public and feel self-conscious).
3. Read more. Try to spend a lot of time reading in the target language. Start with easy
reading materials like product descriptions on e-commerce websites, short blog posts
or Twitter timelines of native speakers. Once you get comfortable with that, start
reading longer materials, like magazine articles, newspapers and books.
4. Brute repetition. This isnt the most elegant technique, but you cant deny that brute
repetition works people have been doing it to commit facts to memory since time
immemorial.
5. Form phrases and sentences with each vocabulary item. We suggest either writing
them down or recording them by speaking into a computer.
6. Latching onto a key sound. Some words have prominent sounds or syllables that are
easy to recognize and easy to remember, especially in European languages likeFrench or
Russian. You can use those notable elements to improve your memory and recall of the
word, associating the specific sound with the actual word. If you like, you can also
associate them with memorable hooks from songs, too doing that works very well for
a lot of people.
7. Using cognates. You can use cognates (two words in different languages that share a
similar meaning, spelling and pronunciation) to help lend additional context to new
vocabulary items. Cognates are rarely the exact equivalent of the original word in
question, but the relationship and similarities will help you establish a clear image for it
in your mind.
8. Diglot weave. In this technique, you insert the new foreign vocabulary item into a
sentence in English, substituting the foreign word in place of its English equivalent. We
suggest making at least four or five sentences for each new vocabulary item this
should be enough to establish a meaningful context for it. Try to create different

sentences for every instance (declaratives, questions, commands and others) to give
yourself a decent sample variety.
9. Create lists. Put together two numbered lists. On one list, put the words you want to
remember. On the other, put their meanings or translations in your native language. You
can write this out as a table or as two separate documents. Either way, you can look at
the lists periodically to study them, memorizing each item until youre able to recall
everything on cue
10. Take vocabulary tests. Im a huge fan of taking vocabulary tests for learning and recall.
Problem is, these arent as readily available as youd probably like. If you can find them,
though, theyre incredibly useful for reinforcing your recall of new words and phrases.
http://www.languagestudy.com/blog/simple-techniques-for-helping-memorizevocabulary/

The Ten Best Vocabulary Learning Tips

Vocabulary Learning Tip One: Read, Read, Read! Most vocabulary words
are learned from context. The more words you're exposed to, the better
vocabulary you will have. While you read, pay close attention to words you
don't know. First, try to figure out their meanings from context. Then look
the words up. Read and listen to challenging material so that you'll be
exposed to many new words.

Vocabulary Learning Tip Two: Improve your context skills. Research

shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. To improve
your context skills pay close attention to how words are used. Doing a search
on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) will give you many
examples of how that word is used in context. Play our Daily Context
Vocabulary Quiz.

Vocabulary Learning Tip Three: Practice, practice, practice. Learning a

word won't help very much if you promptly forget it. Research shows that it
takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to really make a word part of your
vocabulary. It helps to write the word - both the definition and a sentence
you make up using the word - perhaps on an index card that can later be
reviewed. As soon as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your index
cards periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Also,

do a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) to get

many examples of how the word is actually used.

Vocabulary Learning Tip Four: Make up as many associations and

connections as possible. Say the word aloud to activate your auditory
memory. Relate the word to words you already know. For example, the word
GARGANTUAN (very large) has a similar meaning to the words gigantic,
huge, large, etc. You could make a sequence: small, medium, large, very large,
GARGANTUAN. List as many things as you can that could be considered
GARGANTUAN: Godzilla, the circus fat lady, the zit on your nose, etc.
Create pictures of the word's meaning that involve strong emotions. Think
"the GARGANTUAN creature was going to rip me apart and then eat me!"

Vocabulary Learning Tip Five: Use mnemonics ( memory tricks). For

example, consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think EGG REACH
US - imagine we've made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us
and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Such funny little word pictures will help you
remember what words mean, AND they are fun to make up. Also, find out
which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!

Vocabulary Learning Tip Six: Get in the habit of looking up words you
don't know. If you have a dictionary program on your computer, keep it open
and handy. America Online and other internet services have dictionaries and
thesauruses on their tool bars. Find them and look up any word you are not
absolutely sure of. Use a thesaurus when you write to find the word that
fits best.

Vocabulary Learning Tip Seven: Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle,
and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available for the
computer, so you are not dependent on a partner to play. Also, try out the
Franklin Electronic Dictionary that features built-in word games.

Vocabulary Learning Tip Eight: Use vocabulary lists. For the serious
vocabulary student, there are many books that focus on the words most
commonly found in standardized tests, such as the SAT and GRE. There are
also many interesting word sites on the Internet, many of which will send you
a word a day by email.

Vocabulary Learning Tip Nine: Take vocabulary tests. Playing games, such
as the ones on this site, that test your knowledge will help you learn new
words and also let you know how much progress you're making. Offline
sources for vocabulary tests include SAT prep books (we recommend "10
Real SATs" by ETS), and the Reader's Digest Wordpower section. For more,
check out Amazon.com or your local bookseller.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/vocabulary_tips.htm

10 Ways to Build and Use Your Vocabulary

A common complaint among college professors is that student writing lacks the
sophistication and level of vocabulary expected of college students. Building your
vocabulary has many advantages beyond improving your writing. A rich, welldeveloped vocabulary will make you a better contributor to class discussions, a
better reader, and a learner who can make connections among various disciplines.
The thesaurus feature that comes with Microsoft Word and other word-processing
programs is a huge help for students with underdeveloped vocabularies. A thesaurus in
print form can't hurt either.
Techniques that actually help you to learn new words and build your vocabulary will be
more useful to you in the long run, however. Now, it probably does not sound practical to
drop everything in the middle of writing a paper to improve your vocabulary -- and it's not.
That's the time to use those shortcuts like thesaurus features
But when it's not crunch time, you can employ relatively painless techniques to boost your
command of words. Here are 10 of them:
1.Read. Research shows that one of the best vocabulary builders is reading -- and you will
certainly do a lot of reading in college. Make it a habit to jot down unfamiliar words you
come across while researching your paper and learn their definitions and usage. Consider
keeping a file of new words on 3 x 5 cards with definitions and examples of how to use
them in a sentence.
2.Read beyond textbooks. Look for new words when you read for pleasure. And yes, read
for pleasure. Read magazines, newspapers, and the Internet. Look for topical words, words
in the news.

3.Learn word roots. I'm tempted to say "Learn Latin." Sixty percent of the English
language comes from Latin. My four years of high-school Latin were the biggest single
contributor to my vocabulary (Thank you, Mr. Rhody). Sadly, fewer and fewer high schools
and colleges offer Latin. And learning the whole language does take time. But you can learn
both Latin and Greek word roots, suffixes, and prefixes, thus giving you the tools to suss
out the meanings of words. Here are just a few Websites that can help you learn:
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com: English Vocabulary Derived from Latin
Etymoline.com
Word for Word
The Study Hall: Prefixes, Suffixes, & Roots
English vocabulary word directory with links to various thematic units of Words for Our
Modern Age
4.Sort new words. You can combine techniques 1 through 3 by writing new words you
encounter on sticky notes and then applying your knowledge of word roots to sort words
based on their common roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Or group synonyms together, or make
sentences with them. Create a word wall and learn from the relationships among words.
5.Make a new-word list on steroids. Vocabulary expert J. M. Steadman recommends a
word list with more than just definitions. He suggests columns for the new word you want
to learn, its part of speech (noun, verb, etc.), its pronunciation, synonyms for the word, its
antonyms, its derivation (learning those Greek and Latin roots will help), common meanings
of the words, related words, and sentences that illustrate how the word is used. Such a
detailed list could be kept in a notebook or even on a spreadsheet on your computer. Yes,
investigating all those aspects of new words is a lot of work, but research shows that
multiple exposures to words truly helps you learn them.
6. Learn a new word each day. Lots of tools are available to help you learn a new word
every day, including print calendars and Web sites. Here are a few:
Merriam-Webster Word of the Day
Word a Day newsletter from Vocab Vitamins
The OneLook Word of the Day
7. Determine word meanings from their context. Even before you look a word up, try to
figure out what it means by the context in which you find it. You'll certainly encounter lots
of words in context in your college readings. Studies show that strategies in which you
self-evaluate how you have figured out what words mean reinforce your learning of those
words.
8. And then use them in new contexts. Use them in your written assignments. Look for
concepts related to the new words you're using.

9. Use new words in conversation. Don't worry about appearing pompous or too smart by
using new word you've learned. You'll learn the words better, and you might even impress
your conversation partners.
10. Cultivate a fascination, affection, and curiosity for words and their histories. If you
think of vocabulary improvement as a distasteful chore, you will obviously not get far with
it. But if you immerse yourself in words, their meanings, uses, and derivations, you'll
develop a life-long facility with words that will serve you well throughout your college
years and far beyond.

Providing explicit and direct instruction is one sure way to help

students increase their vocabularies. The STAR model of Select,
Teach, Activate, and Revisit provides a framework for teachers as
they plan vocabulary instruction
SELECT
Choose appropriate content words.
Focus on words essential to understanding of the text.
Draw a story or text map. Using the map as the basis, select four to six words
fundamental to retelling or summarizing the text.
Look for other important words that students are likely to encounter in additional
readings, even though these words may not be essential to this particular text.
TEACH
Consider the processes you will use before, during, and after reading.
Before assigning the reading, make sure you access prior knowledge and bring to the
forefront concepts that will not be clearly explained in the text.
Use definitional, contextual, and usage information when teaching vocabulary. For
example, present the word in context, discuss possible meanings, ask for a definition
(provide one if students are unable to provide an accurate definition), ask students to use
the words in a personal way.
ACTIVATE
This step focuses on the work you want students to do in order to gain understanding.
Use writing assignments and other activities to make sure students repeatedly hear,
read, write, and use the targeted words.
Give students the opportunity to connect new words with other words they already know
(word maps or synonym webs). Have students act out words or demonstrate meaning.

REVISIT
Use additional activities to revisit important words. Possible activities include unit
reviews, games, writing assignments, vocabulary journals, and word books.