The Problem: New Words
You decide that you have the energy to study English and sit down to read a newspaper article or a book. Within minutes there are several words which you have not understood. Or maybe you are in class and you come across a new word. What do you do?
The Usual Solution
A lot of people tend to do one of two things: ignore or translate. Both of these strategies have their advantages. If you can understand the main idea of the sentence is it really that important that you don t know a word? Not really I would say. Translation gives you the meaning in a quick and easy way. But what s the disadvantage of translating? Well, often one word can have several meanings. Another problem is that context and surrounding words can give a word a particular meaning which you can t find in the dictionary. Translation limits your learning and we want to do the opposite. Also what is the use of translating the word if you then can t remember it?! Instead of using a bilingual dictionary, buy a monolingual learner dictionary e.g. Collins Cobuild Intermediate Dictionary or Macmillan Advanced Learners Dictionary.
Ten Tips
Here are ten suggestions to help you improve your vocabulary:
- Write the word in an example sentence (and check it with your teacher!).
- Write the word as part of a typical short phrase or expression, for example not just trip but go on a business trip.
- Think about the grammar of the word. Is it a verb or a noun etc.?
- Also think about the pronunciation. Think of words that rhyme or use phonemes if you know them. If your learner dictionary also has a CD ROM or you look online you will even be able to hear the words.
- Attach a drawing or a picture associated to the meaning.
- Think about using colour to reinforce the word or its meaning.
- Think of other words you know which have the same or very similar meanings.
- Find a word which has the opposite meaning.
- Think about other words with the same origin.
- Also think about words or phrases which could confuse, for example words from your own language which sound similar but have a different meaning.
Conclusion
Translating is OK but limiting. If you follow the tips above you can learn six or seven new words every time you come across a word or phrase that you don t understand.
An Example
Please try the ten tips on the word heroic. Read below for the answer. The answer:
- He tried to save the girl from the fire. It was a heroic effort.
- a heroic effort; heroic battles
- to be heroic (adjective)
- heroic (3 syllables with the stress on ro syllable); /h r k/
- It was a heroic effort
- It is similar to brave or courageous (more formal)
- It is the opposite of cowardly
- Hero is the root word
- A hero is the person man or woman (noun).
- A heroine is the woman often to describe the lead character in a book.
- Heroism is the characteristic (noun).
- Heroically is the adverb e.g. He fought heroically. This depends on your language.