You want to speak English, you want to communicate with foreigners but you have a big gap in vocabulary. So how to learn vocabulary properly and effectively?
Learning vocabulary is a very important part of learning a language. The more vocabulary you know, the more likely you are to understand what you hear and read; and of course, you will be able to express what you want when you speak or write.
Every day you hear or read many new English words. You can also look up new words in the dictionary when translating from your native language. However, you cannot possibly learn all of them, so your first problem is deciding which ones to learn. Here are some suggestions:
Learn important words for the subjects you are studying.
Learn words that you read or hear often.
Learn words that you know you'll want to use often.
Once you have chosen words to learn, you next have to decide how you will learn them. Here are a few suggestions:
Write the words in your notebook (with meanings or definitions)
Write words and definitions on small cards.
Repeat these words many times
Group words into different groups
Have someone else check on you
Use these vocabulary words when speaking or writing
Some of you mark or cross out the words you have looked up in the dictionary. The next time they turn to a page with highlighted words, they will be able to immediately check to see if they remember the meaning of those words.
Usually, the first things you do when you learn a new English word are its meaning and its corresponding word in your native language. But there are things you need to know to know how to use the word like a true native. For example, you must learn:
Writing style
Articulation
How the vocabulary is changed (e.g. if it were a verb, noun or adjective how would it change)
Grammatical features of words
You will learn a lot of words if you come across them while reading books or magazines. Because you will be able to guess the meaning of the word based on the context of the sentence or story. Encountering a word many times while reading helps you understand how that word is used and apply it when speaking or writing. Read a lot for fun – both fiction and non-fiction – because it's also a great way to learn English vocabulary. However, only choose books that you find relatively easy to read. Difficult stories or texts will not help you develop your vocabulary naturally. Remember, you have to read A LOT to improve your vocabulary
As you know, vocabulary can be divided into two groups – passive and active vocabulary. Passive vocabulary includes all the words that you understand when you read or listen, but that you don't use (or can't remember) when you write or speak. Active vocabulary is all the words you understand, plus all the words you can use. Your active vocabulary, in English and your native language, is much smaller than your passive vocabulary.
The more you use a word, as mentioned above, the more likely it is that it will become part of your active vocabulary.
Don't let vocabulary hinder your future! Wishing you happy studying.