Mimic the words: I always wonder how I learned my mother’s language. It was never a conscious effort. So it is for all of us. Then why is that we have trouble learning a new language? It’s because we never implement the methods that we adopted as children for learning a language. As children we imitated all the words spoken by our parents and relatives. That’s how we learned.

The same method can be implemented for learning a new language. Just copy/imitate the new words spoken by your seniors, friends, celebrities, sports personalities, teachers, lecturers etc. Imitation makes learning easier. Note all the interesting and new words they use, as well as their methods of delivery.

Play with words: Nothing can be learned under stress. Enjoy the process of accumulating new words to your language. Say them aloud. Share them with your friends and relatives. Use them in context whenever, wherever possible. Organize small vocabulary learning groups with your friends and have weekly meets. All these things will make learning vocabulary extremely enjoyable.

Look out for unknown words: Don’t be content with known words. Try to look out for new words, words that you never heard. If you get intimidated seeing a new word you will never learn it. Instead consider it an opportunity and learn the word, the meaning and pronunciation.

Give your brain a healthy diet: It means keep your brain active and agile by feeding it with information, nutrition, oxygen and love. And one of the brain’s major sources of information is vocabulary and words. So feed your brain with adequate number of words in order to keep it healthy. Feed some ‘fresh’ words to your brain every now and then and do not starve your brain too long. (Smiles)

Learn from your mistakes: Please do not feel embarrassed if you do not know the meaning/pronunciation of any word. Do not worry if you have given a wrong meaning to a particular word. To err is human. Remember mistakes alone expedite/catalyze learning.

Become friends with words: One best way to remember words and that too forever is becoming friends with them. By using them in novel contexts every now and then and getting back to them time and again to refresh your relation with them.

Stay committed: Commitment is an essential ingredient of a successful life. You need to stay committed to the pursuit of adding to your vocabulary. Only then will you master it one day.

I am sure you all enjoyed reading these 7 methods. Understanding them is more important. And practicing them will put you on the path to success inevitably. You can share some interesting methods like the ones mentioned above if you have any. We shall be eagerly waiting for your responses on this blog.

Wishing you Success!!

Regards,

Anu Veluri

Manager- learnwordlist.com

Learning vocabulary is not a mechanical process but mastery through a process of association. The associations and vibrations that a word sets up depend on our own past and present experiences. Vocabulary building can be termed as a social process. We expand our comprehension of words by interchanging and sharing them with others. An effort is made here to introduce some innovative methods of imbibing new words and in the process enable the student to handle competitive tests with confidence.

1. Predicting Meanings:

In this method, the learners are given a text with blanks. On recognition of the tone of the passage, they are asked to predict ten key words that are likely to be found in that passage. This exercise focuses learners’ attention on either new or known vocabulary and at the same time stimulates the desire to find out what is actually in the text. The purpose of communication – that is what and why about the passage, can also aid in predicting the appropriate words in the given context. (Start predicting the meaning of the word depending on the context)

2. A Memory game:

Learners on reading a passage can try to recollect the number of adjectives and verbs they come across. Further the related antonyms and synonyms can also be discussed.

Passages from newspapers or magazines with some important verbs deleted can be taken as task sheets with wider scope for the learner to contribute words in the contextual sense.

For example: Much awaited monsoons — disappointed —— farmers….. water scarcity — government — alternatives —

With this practice task, prediction of words can be learnt in a particular context with the purpose of communication in mind — one can utilize it in terms of cause and effect; compare and contrast; addition of details, etc.

3. Brain storming around a given word:

Shopping

selection special occasions

sales friends’ choice

selected pullets in thing

colors

Through this task the various aspects of a given topic can be explored.

discounts branded things local made fashions expensive budget

outdated readymade tailored

Make a list of words from this picture which talks about science, progress and man’s role in it.

4. Variation : Pictures depicting activities can be taken for practice to contribute suitable adjectives and verbs.

Words related to Feelings: elated, sulk, determined, etc.

This word set on ‘association’ can be taken as an example for further practice:

trust non-aggression friendship co-operation

federation partnership alliance companionship

collaboration love sympathy harmony

Variation: antonyms can also be listed out.

5. Role assignments:

Qualities of a good politician

Journalist

film maker etc Adjectives describing their roles can be listed down.

6. Sentence Completion:

English is——-

English as an International Language——–

It is difficult————

At least seven different completions are required.

7. From word to word:

Taking one base word, additions are made to continue the passage logically.

For example, ‘country’ as a base word.

Country - government – party – elections – manifesto – promises – welfare schemes – vote – term.

Variation:

In this manner, learners can pick out words in a logical order from reading passages. The synonyms and antonyms can also be listed for the chosen words.

It is not with the intention to label language, but brainstorm words under the following headings:-

Verb (past form)

Verb (infinitive form)

Verb (past participle form)

Noun (countable)

Noun (uncountable)

Adjective

Adverb

Preposition

Pronoun

Article………etc.

8. Variations on the above

Choose all the possible answers

He ate lunch in the_____.

cafeteria / restaurant / snack / snack bar / salad bar / diner

9. Team Vocabulary – Race

Establish a vocabulary, category and number of words, e.g. ’20 words connected to sport.’

Keep a running tally on the board.

Other categories include:-

25 irregular verbs

10 prepositions

15 animals

20 phrasal verbs

15 ways to travel. etc.

10. Word domains

e.g., general category: break, damage, injure, mar, spoil etc. He dented the … car’s bumper / tree branch / glass of water. She splintered the … can / board / mirror. He shattered the … mirror / water / curtains. She shredded the … can / tree branch /curtains.

11. Which word in each pair is stronger, more forceful, or more intense?

to surprise to astound

to boil to simmer

to toss to throw

to hurl to throw

12. Different meanings of familiar vocabulary e.g. toll

(Driving on a highway) There’s a toll bridge ahead. Do you have any quarters? The highway death toll has declined sharply since police began to enforce the ‘drunk driving laws’ more aggressively.

The bell in the old church tower tolled four o’clock.

13. The Narrative Chain

With the help of the main idea in the sentence, associated words listed out, serve to create a meaningful paragraph.

For example – Management study opens the vistas to a world of opportunities and challenges.

( An Oxford University Press Publication)

Anu Veluri

Manager- Learnwordlist.com

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