The best way to study vocab?
How do you study Spanish vocab out of a textbook in a way that works? (Besides using the terms in daily life which isn't very practical for me.) I usually fold a sheet of computer paper into fourths and write the Spanish terms on the first fourth. Then I write the English translations on the second fourth. After that, I fold back the first fourth so that I can't see it and I write the Spanish translations on the third fourth. I repeat this process until I've used up all the fourths, front and back, of the sheet.
19 Answers
You could start making you own flashcard sets here. I think that you would find it more interesting. You will hear the word pronounced. The sets will be more stored more conveniently and entering the words will serve the same practice as writing them down. Also, if you make your lists public you will be helping others.
I think, however, you will find reading a better way to learn vocabulary than memorizing lists. Of course, it is tedious to have to stop and look up every other word while you are building your vocabulary. So, at first, I would suggest reading stories that have bilingual translations or join a site like LingQ where you can read stories where all you have to do is highlight the word and a translation is given. They are great sites for building vocabulary.
And, obviously, if you don't use the vocabulary, you will soon forget it, so reading as much as you can will help you to retain the words that you are learning.
The best way to study vocab?
- Don't learn words in isolation - learn them in "groups" or at least in pairs.
- Try to put them into context in sentences.
- Have a booklet that you carry at all times to note down new words.
- Play word-games in your head as you go through the day.
Example "What is that called in Spanish?" when you are in a restaurant or a theatre or an airport or whereever..
Or when you see a word in Spanish think of another one that means the same or similar or the opposite or is connected in some way.
I read Spanish language newspapers and write down all of the words I don't know, including those I can guess from context, and look them up later.
Whenever I speak in English, I think of how I would say it in Spanish and look up any words I need.
I am convinced that I remember words better if I learn them in some context. I prefer flashcards that use full sentences for the Spanish side. (A sentence on the English side is probably not quite so important.)
Also, because words can have so many meanings, you might want five or six flashcards with five or six sentences illustrating five or six different meanings for your five or six words in five or six different contexts.
the key is definitely repetition.
everyone has their own methods, as long as you repeat it.
they say if you read it the first time you have to revise it again the next day. to keep in in your short term memory. then again 2 days later. then a week later and it will go into your long term memory then. thats the science of it 
There are several ways of learning vocabulary. In your situation, I would create flashcards for each grammar word you are currently studying in your text book. Take them with you wherever you go and review them whenever you get a chance. Have someone quiz you from time to time. Focus on words you are having trouble with by separating those cards from the others. Spend extra time with these words.
Basically, it does take a lot of time and patience. It is really important that you don't memorize words just to past a quiz or test. You are going to need those words in the future. 
You will learn them eventually, with continued practice.
Buena suerte 
In my oppinion, the best and only way of learning vocabulary is to maintain always an attitude of curiosity for the life.
I think if you are really serious you should take all of your vocabulary words and put them on flashcards, study them and make sentences with them on the back using whatever tenses you are learning.
Get a learning partner.
These ideas about flash cards are great, but so is someone who will encourage you in your learning, improve your response time in recognition and get you to say the words out loud.
Getting a buddy to go over your flash cards with you until you know the words cold I think is the best technique. It makes learning fun, too.
I make flashcard sets here and then make an effort to go over them every month or two to keep them fresh. Some I use all the time but others rarely so review the sets helps me not forget them. I once heard but don´t know if it is true that after seeing, hearing or saying a word 2000 times, it becomes ingrained in your mind and you will not have to think about how to translate it, you just know it. So the more you expose yourself to these words repeatedly, the better.
One of the best ways for me to learn English vocabulary was by listening to music. I listened, memorized it and look out the unfamiliar words and that helped me, not just with memorization, but the writing and the sound pieces. Music is contagious and that also made it fun. Try not to get too attached to the "translation" The less English you get in your learning, the better Spanish you'd learn.
I always try and associate the Spanish vocab with an image rather than with the English equivalent - that way I'm learning it straight into Spanish, rather than having to "translate" it in my head.
I usually take a page in my jotter and write an overall theme at the top, then list my new words and phrases with a picture beside them. Sometimes I draw a big picture (like a tool box, doctor's surgery, etc) and label all the things in it. My husband always laughs at my vocab lists because they're like something a wee one would do at primary school, but it really helps me remember!
When I can't find an appropriate image (for legal terms, etc), I write the English in one colour and the Spanish in another colour.
Word association can also be useful. For example, to remember "pulgar" is "thumb" think of "pull my finger" or something like that!
Lots of good ideas posted so far 
I try to commit myself to participating in the word of the day thread on this website. It is a pleasant way to add one word per day.
Great ideas all. I would add a general observation about learning strategy. Keep your study sessions relatively short - for most people, 20 minutes is the maximum. But - and this is key! - come back to the material a little later, perhaps an hour later, and study it again. But this time, look at the words all together first, and put aside those you can't remember to come back and focus on. Don't just flip the flashcard to show the answer - force yourself to live with not knowing the answer a couple more minutes while you look at the other words.
One more suggestion: many people don't realize the value of actually focusing completely on what they are learning. That means turning off the TV, putting away the cell phone, and, usually, turning off music. Some people can use soft background music to help them focus but for many people music is a distraction, especially if you are saying the words you are learning aloud. I'm always surprised by how many high schoolers I help with learning other subjects who think it's OK to stop every few minutes to read and answer a text message.
But as others have said, the bottom line is: no shortcuts.
make some flash cards and add on once you know those words
