How To Improve Your English Vocabulary

One very common problem

for English learners is learning new vocabulary words and then forgetting them – so when you want to use a particular word in conversation, you can’t remember it at that moment.
It’s so annoying, and so common!
Does this ever happen to you?
The reason for this difficulty is that most students try to learn vocabulary by studying lists and dictionaries and memorizing the words!
But this is NOT effective (unless you naturally have an excellent memory!)

However, there is something you can do to learn English vocabulary and remember the words successfully, and that is:
Write the new word in a “vocabulary notebook”!
Every time you learn a new word – for example, from an article, from a book, or from an English lesson – first, write it down in your “vocabulary notebook”. The action of writing is more ACTIVE than just reading a definition.
If you don’t have a vocabulary notebook, I highly recommend that you get one ASAP!

You should write in your vocabulary notebook:
▪ The word
▪ The definition in English (or translation)
▪ 1 example sentence from the article or dictionary
▪ 1 example sentence that YOU create

Imagine you just learned the word “generous.” Write in your vocabulary notebook:
1.) WORD: generous (adjective)
2.) DEFINITION: when a person gives time / money freely
3.) EXAMPLE 1 (from the article):
“Thanks for paying for my dinner. You’re very generous.”
4.) EXAMPLE 2 (my example):
“My brother is very generous because he volunteers at the animal shelter on weekends.”

It’s best if your example sentence is true or relevant to your life, because this creates a personal connection with the new vocabulary word.
The next day, read your vocabulary notebook again, because it’s important to review after some time has passed and then try to add one more example sentence using the new word.
Do you have a vocabulary notebook?
Start one today!
Your homework for today is to start a vocabulary notebook.