How to learn English words quickly: 15 simple tricks

Vocabulary replenishment is a prerequisite for improving English. The more vocabulary you have, the better you will understand and speak the language, the more intelligent your speech will become.

Фото: Depositphotos

Edition Englex collected tips on how to quickly learn English words.

What words to learn in English

• Basic vocabulary needed to understand a foreign language. There are eternal themes like “Greeting”, “Family”, “Food”, everyone needs to know them.
• The words you need. Are you going to work in a large company? Learn business English. Do you work as a programmer? Use computer terms. Do you like to travel? Learn English for travel, etc.
• If you are already reading books or watching movies in English, you should take the vocabulary from there. The main thing is to look and read MODERN masterpieces, it makes no sense to study archaisms.
• Check with an experienced teacher of English, he will tell you what to learn. Educators know exactly what vocabulary you need, and which topics you can spend less time on.

You should not spend time studying specific vocabulary, if you are not going to change the scope of activities. For example, if you work in a large financial institution, it is not necessary to learn medical or legal terms.

How to learn English words effectively

1. Make cards with words

Old as the world, but effective reception. All students at least once in their life got the cards and tried to learn a new vocabulary on them. It is convenient and affordable: you do not need to spend money, because you write them yourself, and you can take cards with you wherever you go.

Recall that there are several ways to make such cards. For newbies:

• On one side of the piece we write the word in English, on the second - in Russian. We check our knowledge: we translate a word from Russian into English and back.
• On the one hand, we write the word in English and paste the picture, on the other - the translation into Russian. This method is well suited to people with associative thinking. In your mind, you associate a new English-language concept and the subject it denotes. We translate as described above.
• On the one hand, we write the word in English, but with the Russian context, on the other hand - the word in Russian without context. When you repeat the vocabulary, try to translate the concept from Russian into English, and if you cannot remember the translation, open the side with the Russian context, you will quickly guess / remember the meaning of the word.

Infographics: Englex

For more experienced students, we recommend using English-English dictionaries. Then on one side we write the word in English, on the other - the definition in ENGLISH. You can also write synonyms and antonyms of the concept under study.

And how to learn vocabulary? Memorizing English words is best in context. Therefore, you can write on the card is not just a word, but a sentence in which it is used. Where to get such an offer? You can enter the concept under study in the electronic dictionary, for example Lingvo: it will give you the most popular uses of vocabulary.

With cards you need to constantly work: view and repeat the learned vocabulary. Periodically change cards to new ones, and after 1-2 weeks, return the old ones to repeat the words.

2. Use special tutorials

Textbooks to increase vocabulary will help you not only to learn new words, but also to learn what words they use. The manuals are good because they provide not just lists of words, but also examples of their use. Words learn in context, so remembering them will be even easier than using cards.

3. Create your notebook dictionary

A method similar to cards, only you constantly carry a notebook with you and supplement with new words. This method is good for those who are constantly losing something: cards you are unlikely to last long. Yes, and to find a notebook in a women's handbag is much easier than small pieces of paper. It is convenient to organize your notebook as follows. Each page will correspond to a specific day. Write repeat dates on top. Checking the notepad daily, you will not miss the next repeat date.

A page might look like this:

Infographics: Englex

4. Engage on training sites

If you are difficult to tear away from the computer, then learn English words, "without departing from the cash register." Be engaged on the training resources, it is even more interesting, than classical cards or a notebook with words.

5. Combine words by subject

How easy is it to memorize English words? Usually, groups of words related to one topic are well remembered. So try to break the words into groups of 5-10 pieces and learn them. There is such a thing as the Restorff effect: the human brain from a group of objects best remembers the one that stands out. Use this position for your own benefit: in the group of words of the same subject matter “introduce a stranger” - enter the word of unrelated subject matter. For example, learn the words on the topic "Fruits", add to them one word on the topic "Transport", your classes will become even more effective.

6. Draw mind map

You can easily learn English words of the same subject matter if you draw an intelligence card or mind map. Such a scheme clearly shows what topic the words belong to. In the meantime, you paint it, vocabulary will be stored in memory. Mind map might look like this:

Infographics: Englex

7. Install special applications

Not everyone has the time to write cards with words or to draw intelligence cards. But mobile application developers have already solved this problem: now you can install a special program on a smartphone or tablet and learn English words. We recommend using Lingualeo or Anki, they are free, and classes with them are effective.

8. Use associations

This method is loved by many students: to learn a word, you need to come up with an association in Russian. For example: you need to remember the word Show - show. We all know the word show, so make a short sentence: we are shown the show. Or the word shoot (shoot) can be memorized like this: the jester shoots. You can make convenient associations yourself, as long as they are clear to you and easy to remember. So it will be easier to increase the vocabulary of the English language. Training will be effective if you not only form a verbal association, but also visualize it: speaking the words shoot, Imagine this shooting jester, let the image turn out as funny and memorable as possible. Even better - a dynamic picture with your personal presence: you imagine how the jester shoots somebody at you (from a water gun, so that the spectacle comes out funny, but not tragic). The more alive the picture, the easier it will be to remember the word.

9. Surround yourself with the words you are learning.

You can use all the same cards: put them all over the house so that they are constantly conspicuous. Let's remember where we spend a lot of time? Of course, at the computer! Use technology to your advantage: write 5-10 words on the splash screen, in a few days you will remember them well. It is even more efficient to use a special program that will work in the background, that is, words will pop up while working on a computer at specified intervals. Examples of such programs: Words, Sensei, LMBomber etc. You can install similar applications on your smartphone or tablet. It’s enough to do 10-20 minutes every day to feel the progress.

10. Read texts in English

The more you read, the more often you meet new words and the higher the likelihood that you will memorize them. Do not look in the dictionary for the meaning of each unfamiliar word, choose only those that are often found in the text.

11. Use the learned vocabulary as often as possible.

How to learn English words and not forget them? You are familiar with the principle use it or lose it? For knowledge to remain in memory, you need to actively "use" them. It is good to compose short stories with the use of new words, and the vocabulary set forth in the short, ridiculous text will be remarkably remembered. If you attend courses or study with an English teacher, try as often as possible to “screw” new words into the conversation: the more times you say a word, the better it will be to remember. Do not forget about spelling: to correctly spell the word, try to use it in writing. You can make sentences or stories with new vocabulary and write them down, and then tell someone.

Фото: Depositphotos

12. Use your favorite teaching methods

The more often you meet a word in “natural habitat”, the easier it will be to remember it, so do not forget to read texts, watch videos, listen to podcasts in English. Do what interests you. So you will see in what context a particular concept is used. For example, on the site engvid.com native speakers will present you new knowledge in an easy and funny way, thanks to this, the words will be well remembered. Online newsinlevels.com an excellent tactic is used: you not only learn a new vocabulary, but also involuntarily repeat it from time to time. All words are periodically repeated in new videos, so with constant viewing of news you can significantly replenish your vocabulary. You can expand the vocabulary of the English language in the process of exciting activities, for example: to solve crossword puzzles, play "Hangman", Memory games.

13. Test your knowledge

It is useful from time to time to pass various tests on the vocabulary level. Having passed such a test, you will immediately see what has been deposited in the memory, and which topics or words need to be repeated.

14. Develop your memory

It is impossible to remember anything if you do not have a good memory. Learning the language itself coaches our brain well and improves memory, but other methods of memory development should also be used.

15. Follow your daily plan

For an average person, it’s best to learn 5-10 words per day. Clearly follow your plan for learning new vocabulary to see progress.

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