Top Techniques for Vocabulary Improvement
When building your vocabulary, try using these techniques, which have proven to be simple but effective.
Other Types of Dictionaries for Vocabulary Building
Think of a keyword or a term that closely relates the meaning of the term you are trying to learn. Focus on that keyword and come up with a sentence that can use the keyword and the new term interchangeably without having the meaning of the sentence altered in any way.
Word Lists
Come up with a list of related words. For those who are just starting out building their vocabulary, a list with anywhere from three to seven words would be more than sufficient to learn and master in a week. Make sure they are related in some way or you will have a hard time remembering them.
Repetition
Repeat a new word several times in your mind. Say it over and over out loud. This will help familiarize your brain with the word. If there comes a time that you can't remember the word itself, your brain may remember how you said the word over and over again. In time, the term's sure to come back to you.
Flashcards
Flashcards are used for helping people review for various subjects from math to physics to social science, so why not for the purpose of building your vocabulary as well? Just make sure that you practice the words in a sentence before moving on to the next card.
The best way to enhance your vocabulary is to ensure that the new terms are as embedded in your mind just as the rest of your daily vocabulary is - that they have moved from your conscious mind to your unconscious.
Rhyming
Think of a similar-sounding word or phrase – a homonym for instance – to best remind you of the term you're attempting to understand. Fornicate may remind you of intimate, which is a good thing since to fornicate means to be intimate with someone you are not married to.
Games
There are numerous games that are designed for solo or team play and which can help improve your vocabulary. Mobile or software-based games can even be played for free on sites like Yahoo Games and those of developers or retailers like Big Fish.
Reading
Do not limit yourself to reading fiction and nonfiction works alone. Read newspapers, magazines, professional and scientific journals and even pamphlets. Different types of reading materials usually mean encountering a new kind of vocabulary one way or another as well.
Picture association
If associating a term with a particular keyword doesn't work for you, then try associating it with an image instead. Try to be as vivid as you can when mentally illustrating what image would best fit your new word for the day.
Personalizing
Try to relate the term to an event in your life – or a dream of yours. What matters is that you've found a way to personalize the term, thus making it easier to remember – even if you do not want to.
Finally, one of the best free techniques for improving your vocabulary is to look up a term in the dictionary and to not hesitate asking other people if you heard or read something you don't particularly understand.
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