What is the best way to learn English vocabulary? Well, there is no correct answer to that question. There are several strategies to learn vocabulary faster but not a single one of them can be considered the ‘best’ way. Each person has their own way of learning style, so their strategies will be different also.
Then which one will be the best for me? That is a question we can answer. We will discuss different ways used for English Vocabulary Easy Learning in this article and you can apply them in your study to see which one works for you.
So, let’s get started!
How To Learn Vocabulary in English: Easy Ways
The traditional way to learn vocabulary is to make a list of words and memorize them. People also use a dictionary and start learning from one end to another.
There is nothing wrong if you are most comfortable with conventional methods. You should continue doing so if it brings out your desired outcome. But if you are not comfortable and want to make the learning process easier, you should look for other vocabulary easy learning ways. To do that, first, you need to understand your learning style.
Do you prefer listening over reading? Is it easier for you to remember after writing the word a few times, or would it be enough for you to just read?
Maybe you’ll be more interested in learning by playing word games. Factors like these might seem trivial but plays an important role in the learning process. And the methods we will discuss now utilize these traits:
Maintaining Notebook
If you are the kind of person who maintains a to-do list, listing down all the words you learn is the best method for you.
People who like to keep a track of their appointments, important dates, ideas etc. by noting them down would be comfortable with maintaining a notebook for vocabulary too. If carrying a notebook looks like a hassle for you, just use apps on your phone or other electronic devices.
Tips for maintaining an efficient word list
The main idea of this method is to have a list of words you have and haven’t learned. Whenever you see or hear a new word, note it down. Later, search the dictionary and add the meanings, example sentences, roots, and other information to your list.
It is easy to edit if you are using the electronic method, but if not, make sure to keep plenty of spaces between the words to add information later.
You can write down the meaning or definition in your own language. Or you can write it in English using simpler words. This way, you won’t need to rely on your first language much. You would be able to think in English as well which is immensely useful when having a conversation.
If a word has different versions as different parts of speech, write them down too. Words such as ‘advice and advise’, ‘practice and practise’, ‘affect and effect’ etc. can be confusing if you are trying to use them in your writing. So, you should have a clear idea beforehand.
Try out education vocabulary for ielts and learn how easily you can enhance your vocabulary.
Other Tips
Another useful tip is to divide your words into groups. You can base them on synonyms, the objects they represent etc. It makes remembering the words easier.
In that case, you must maintain a separate document that contains the categorized words. You can also divide them by roots, suffixes and prefixes, patterns etc.
Your work doesn’t end with listing the words down though, you should read them regularly to learn the words by heart. Also, don’t forget to check your old lists for revision.
This is an important part of your learning because, without revision, you might forget old words and end up with a poor vocabulary range. If you forget any old words, add them to your new list so that you remember to learn them again.
If you are looking for a reliable source of vocabulary words, try SpellQuiz Words lists. The words are categorized into two types: Spelling words and Spelling Bee words. The lists are divided into grades along with special lists for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, and adults. There are multiple lists for each segment including sight words so they would be helpful for your active vocabulary expansion as well.
Word Games
Do you like to play games? Do you like the brain teasers? Then word games might seem interesting to you.
Scrabbles and word puzzles are common games that are played by almost every English learner. Teachers even use them in class to encourage students to learn new words. You can also play them with your family and friends.
One misconception about these games is that they are tabletop games, and you need lots of accessories and arrangements to play them. Totally wrong!
There are various online versions of these games and even apps for both iOS and Android. Just download one and start playing on your phone in your free time. Many of the apps even contain virtual dictionaries that explain the words and their pronunciation!
If you are more comfortable with offline games, then there are plenty of resources too. There are books containing crossword puzzles and word search games, even some newspapers contain them. Practice them every day to improve your knowledge.
Develop a reading habit
Are you a bookworm? Then you just won the jackpot! Reading is considered the best way to acquire new words therefore a suitable vocabulary easy learning process for book lovers. By developing a reading habit, you can have an unlimited supply of words.
If English is not your first language, reading an English story would be a little uncomfortable at first. Start with easy stories, maybe children’s books, then work your way to novels or non-fiction works of famous authors. If you are dreaming about higher studies or are pursuing higher studies, then reading an academic journal would be normal for you. They are excellent resources of related terms and formally used words.
Even reading the newspaper would do great help. Try to read them every day. You can develop your knowledge of current affairs along with your vocabulary skill.
Vocabulary easy learning via practical applications
It is hard to remember words without practically using them. It is quite common for students to forget the old lessons as the curriculum focuses on the new ones only. They might revise them for exams once or twice and then forget them completely after.
The same thing can happen to your vocabulary lessons if you are not careful enough.
If you are a person who likes to talk to people or write, the best way for your vocabulary easy learning is to put the words you learned to use. If you think carefully, common words like ‘natural’, ‘awesome’, ‘talent’, ‘funny’ etc. are easy to remember because you use them a lot in your conversation or in your writing.
But uncommon words such as ‘ambiguous’, ‘impediment’, ‘monotony’, ‘plethora’ ‘elicit’ etc. are not used heavily in our daily life. So, to remember all the words along with the new ones, we should find some practical uses for them.
Read our comprehensive blog on vocabulary exercises.
Using the vocabulary in writing
Adding the new words to your writing is relatively easier than adding them to your conversation. You have more time to think about your words than in conversation. You can use dictionaries, your notebooks etc. to make sure if the use of a particular word is appropriate in your writing.
As you research more, you understand the word better.
If you are a student, try to use the newly learned words in your homework. The topic you are writing about might be from other subjects.
If you are a writer, have a blog or want to develop your writing skills, using the vocabulary in your article increases the quality as well as your capability of using them.
Text messages are also a great way if you are more comfortable with texting than making calls.
Adding the words in conversation
Another great technique for vocabulary easy learning is using new vocabulary in conversation might be a bit hard for some people. If you are a non-native speaker in a non-English speaking country, most of your conversation might not even be in English.
People also feel hesitant about having conversations in English even when they have a chance. The best way to overcome the hesitation is to practice speaking with your close ones.
Do you have a friend in your ESL class? Offer them to have a conversation in English. Most likely they will take the chance and be glad that you asked them.
Start with typical normal day conversations to be comfortable with each other. Talk about your day, your likes and dislikes, some common interests that you share- there are literally thousands of topics to talk about.
Instantly bringing up words in your conversation might be too difficult for you so plan which words to use beforehand. Select a number of words you will use for a certain week and then set another few for the next one. If you keep practicing this way, listing beforehand might not be necessary at an advanced level!
If you are interested in more vocabulary easy learning processes, check out SpellQuiz Blogs. There are contain tips and tricks for improving your language skill, necessary resources, updates on the latest discoveries in teaching the English language and many more.
Don’t forget about testing
No matter what approach you choose, remembering old words is a challenge for every learner. Taking exams is the best way in this case. It is mandatory that you plan your weekly or monthly evaluation for monitoring progress.
Finding an appropriate way to test your skill can be hard for people unless you use SpellQuiz! SpellQuiz Vocabulary Test will determine your level within just 10 minutes. All you need to do is to listen to the audio clip played and write it down with appropriate spelling.
Now that you have understood your learning style and found your appropriate vocabulary easy learning process, start to work on your skill improvement today.
Happy learning!