October 24, 2011
Want to master a foreign language’s vocabulary? If you do, you’ll probably need to do some activities on top of your regular language software lessons. Here are three of them:
Create your own table of difficult words. Pull up Excel and create a new worksheet to use as a table of notable words you encounter. Pretty much any word you want can go in here, although we recommend keeping it for those that you won’t exactly find yourself using on a frequent basis.
Use thematic dictionaries. If you want to learn the foreign language for business use, pick up a business dictionary. For studying at an art university? Find an art dictionary. When using a thematic dictionary, don’t go through it like a regular textbook, memorizing the thing from cover to cover. Instead, use it as reference while listening to lectures, reading websites and doing other activities related to the field in the foreign language.
Flash cards. While you can use flash cards in your computer, I suggest using index cards or a smartphone flash card app that you can bring along during commutes. That way, you won’t be tied to your home or office computer when putting in additional vocabulary memorizing.
June 11, 2011
The more materials you read in a target language, the more new words you’ll likely come across. With exposure to new words, of course, comes the opportunity to broaden your vocabulary.
If you come across a new word that you’d like to integrate into your active stock, you can always jot it down and memorize later. We suggest doing something else, though. Something a little more active that can also help deepen your facility with the language.
- Sound it out. Try to guess how it will sound, based on your current experiences with the language (e.g. it’s spelled similar to a word you know), and say it out loud.
- Identify how the word is formed. Can you identify anything familiar about the word, such as a root, a prefix or a suffix? If you can, try to identify what the word means based on those.
- Identify how it is used. Take note of the context surrounding the word (e.g. the meaning of the sentence it is a part of). A lot of the time, you can guess what a word means based from that.
What these activities will do is have you thinking more critically about the target language. You’re no longer just memorizing random words, you’re identifying new elements of vocabulary that you can put to use. This will also serve you down the line, as having the confidence to guess what words mean will help you in future readings.
September 4, 2010
When you first study a language’s vocabulary, you’ll normally start with the often-used words and phrases, such as greetings, body parts and other common things. Most every language program will have a structure for the categories of words you’ll be learning and, if you want to follow your software’s lesson plans, it’s usually best to stick with that.
However, if you’re looking to speak a language as quickly as possible, you may want to make additional arrangements. If you’re in the foreign country now and will need some of the language to use when you go out to eat tomorrow, then foregoing the lesson plan to do your own vocabulary training might prove necessary.
In such instances, the best thing to do is narrow down your vocabulary learning. If you need the language so you don’t end up ordering mashed crickets and fried alligator tail, then turn to your vocabulary reference material’s section on food and start practicing the dishes you’ll want to have instead. Same goes when you need the language for any purpose: shopping, commuting or finding your way around the city.
Along with that, try learning the kinds of filler language people use to string words together. If a foreigner went to an English restaurant and said, “Good afternoon…hamburger,” the waiter might be confounded by what he’s saying. If the same guy learned some filler words like “well,” “ummm” and “and,” he could have said “Good morning…well… hamburger” and it would have made just a little more sense. Not so much, but just a tad more understandable than the first one.
By the way, that foreigner in an English restaurant, well, that will be you tomorrow in the restaurant in the foreign country. Just so you know.
June 7, 2010
When coming across unfamiliar words while reading in a target language, the best way to promote continuity is by using context clues to decipher their meaning in real time. It takes some practice, but getting good at it is a valuable skill that will serve anyone learning a new language.
1. Look for definitions. In written work, some authors will offer up definitions of what a word means.
2. Watch out for synonyms. Writers use synonyms all the time, often in close proximity to the word in question. Recognize them.
3. Watch out for antonyms. Some words, especially modifiers, will get their opposite in the piece too. Similar to synonyms, expect them in close proximity.
4. Pay attention to the descriptions. Often, writers will offer enough detailed description that you can figure out a word’s meaning.
5. Check the examples. Sample illustrations are a great way to detail what a word is hinting at.
6. Look at the topic sentence. The topic sentence always dictates what direction a paragraph is headed. Often, it also clues you in on the type and bent of words that will be included.
If you can take notes, do so. Later, you can verify whether you guessed correctly using your all-in-one language software. However, using context clues while reading can save you plenty of time, as well as maintain the flow that helps you understand the material even better.
March 18, 2010
Who says you can’t have fun while working on your vocabulary? If conventional flash cards, lists and mnemonics isn’t quite up your alley, you should really consider using the lot of available games designed to aid in developing your stock of words in a foreign language. While we won’t recommend using vocabulary builders such as these as a primary language learning program, they make for an excellent addition to a comprehensive language software or a regular class.
Flash has evolved as the de facto platform for many games aimed at helping language learners build up their vocabularies. Relatively easy to program and available on many platforms, it has paved the way for a slew of attractive tools, which you can use to boost your own inventory of a target language.
People learning English as a second language should find this medium to be particularly rich, as I’ve seen tons of resources with games dedicated to helping folks improve their abilities in the vernacular. Doing a quick search on the web alone, should turn up plenty of helpful sites, with games that range from simple to complex, running the gamut from slang words to TOEFL-level usage.
While the pool of choices isn’t as rich for those trying to learn other foreign languages, it’s usually not as bad as you might imagine. Back when I was learning Mandarin, I was able to use at least half a dozen vocabulary games after a good deal of searching.
June 10, 2009
When gaining facility in a language, we tend to want too much too soon, hoping to memorize more vocabulary than our brains can be expected to handle within a short time. In fact, many techniques in vocabulary mastery are geared towards being able to familiarize with words in bulk.
Granted, it is possible to learn more than one word a day. In fact, early in your language learning, regardless of whether you’re taking a course or are using a language software, you’re likely to pick up the basic elements of the vocabulary pretty quickly.
Unfortunately, this trend rarely lasts. As you work with a larger volume of words, you retain less of what you study, perhaps even finding it harder to comprehend more complex concepts. During these times, you can either keep working at it using the same techniques that worked for you early, give up or try to do things another way. I recommend the latter.
As you progress from basic vocabulary to gaining a wider range of competence, it might be more helpful to focus on mastering a single word per day. What exactly does this mean? Pick out a word that has relevance to the things you are involved with in your life (e.g. business, art) and try using it during the course of your day. In your practice time, try writing numerous sentences with it and reciting them. See what parts in your everyday life it is involved in and identify them as you involve yourself in your regular activities.
One word a day is hardly too much. Since you’re focused on it, you’re likely to be able to both retain it as well as integrate it into your ever-expanding vocabulary.
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