Two steps will help you remember new words and add them to your vocabulary: practising and building. To become comfortable with the new word, practise using the word in your writing, in your speaking, and in your everyday thoughts. Thinking about new words helps you to remember them. Just memorizing lists of words is not very effective. In order for a word to really become a part of your vocabulary, you have to see it used or hear it used in several different word out and pronounce it to yourself.The following guidelines will help you remember new words:ways over a period of time. When you come across a new word you should ask yourself, “Have I seen this word before, have I heard someone use this word before?”
The following guidelines will help you remember new words:
- Practise writing the word and its definition often.
- Practise saying the word. Use the pronunciation key in your dictionary to learn the correct pronunciation.
- Try to learn the word and its meaning the first time you see it.
- Make vocabulary flip cards from index cards. Write the word on one side and the meaning on the other.
- Make up a sentence you can understand using the word correctly.
- Vary the word: try to make it plural, to change the tense, to add -ly.
- Practise the word in conversation, being sure to pronounce it correctly.
- Use the word in writing assignments as often as possible.
- Repeat the word many times in your mind.
- Study a few words each day for several days to firmly learn them. Don’t overload yourself with too long a word list.
- Notice the words used by teachers, public speakers, people on TV, etc. If they know these words, why don’t you?
