Do you struggle to remember new terms in English? Do you often get stumped at some complex words while reading books, newspapers, or even movie subtitles? Or are you usually utilizing their fancy vocabulary collection during a simple conversation?
If you are included in the latter ones, then good for you but let us tell you that whether you are a pro at English vocabulary or someone who is in the initial stages, there is always room to expand their knowledge of words since English is a vast language and it keeps on growing as time slips away.
Both rhyme and logic are frequently absent from the English language. It’s chock-full of synonyms, homophones, metaphors, homonyms, tenses, adjectives that begin with X, and other perplexing terms that make learning it appear extremely tough. Fortunately, you may expand your English vocabulary using the five methods you used to study your first language: reading, writing, listening, watching, and chatting.
Reading
The reading portion is the ultimate source of expansive vocabulary. If anyone is reading a book and doesn’t understand a term based on context, they would check it up in a dictionary and memorize it.
When you look up terms in a dictionary, you are likely to recall them better than surfing the internet. The reason is that searching stuff up in a dictionary takes more effort; thus, you’ll remember it better.
1) Reading novel
Make reading novels your habit, and watch how your vocabulary grows. Stories will keep you intrigued by the storyline and help you learn new words without getting bored. And also, if you’re reading famous works, you’ll very certainly be able to locate a translation in your language.
2) Blog posts of interest
Now, that’s one good way to enhance the glossary. Since most of our day is consumed by browsing Social media apps, we should read various blog posts as per our interests to learn new English terms.
Writing
Writing is essential for expanding one’s vocabulary. It goes both ways, so if you have an extensive vocabulary, you will have better writing abilities. Similarly, if you have exceptional writing abilities, you write frequently, expanding your vocabulary.
3) Journaling
As writing stimulates your mind to look for new words, thoughts, and phrases to support your ideas, journaling is a fantastic way to add more comments to your knowledge.
4) Build a personal Lexicon
Building a vocabulary list always comes so handy! All you have to do is, whenever you spot a problematic word or hear a word you aren’t familiar with, include it into your list and look up its synonyms later on.
Listening
Isn’t it true that babies learn language by listening? There’s no reason to believe that one would have a more significant impact than the other, and you’d have better spelling and pronunciation if you learned using audio.
Listening is linked with attentiveness. If you are attentive enough while listening to anything, you are more likely to grasp that word immediately.
5) Audio Books
Try utilizing you’re traveling time by listening to audiobooks or podcasts. Audiobooks can help you learn and extend your vocabulary in secondary languages by allowing you to hear the words pronounced, particularly in conversational scenarios. Believe us, this works like magic, and not only has it shaped our glossary but the way we speak too.
6) Songs
Have you ever heard that music has its own language? Of course, we have come across this statement quite several times, and today studies have also proved that the way the human brain interprets bits of spoken language is improved by playing a musical instrument. Thus, listening to music and songs is fun to get to know new words.
Conversation
9) Chatting with Fellow students
Talking with your friends in English will enhance your vocabulary and fluency and theirs too. It would be beneficial for both parties.
10) Conversing with Fluent speakers
Always try to have a conversation with someone fluent in English. This way, you will understand the manner of speaking, the correct pronunciation, and grip on unfamiliar words.
Watching
7) Movies or TV shows
Watching movies or TV shows with subtitles can help you grasp new words, and also, you are most likely to absorb words through it because you are getting their context through the actions of the characters in the movie.
8) Watching individuals
This may seem unusual advice but watching people speak really helps! Every person has their own way of talking, and this way, if you are a keen observer, you will end up catching some phrases from every person’s own vocabulary.
Having said that, now you are fully aware of ten basic ways to freshen your lexicon, so don’t delay it anymore and start implementing from today onwards before your English exam arrives because remember; The richer the vocabulary, the better you are at the English language.