How to increase vocabulary
What are some effective ways to increase my vocabulary?
10 Answers
The answer is rather simple, it's the same technique every school system and parent in the world uses. Reading.
The same things we did as children to learn our native language are the same things you need to do learn a second or a third language. Read, read, read an read some more. And when you get tired of reading, keep reading.
Whether it be children's books, novels, comic strips, short stories, poems, magazines, newspapers, whatever, read.
You might try making short lists or flashcards (10 to 20 words per day) and carry them with you .Throughout the day refer to them while waiting in line ,at a stoplight,when someone is boring the heck out you .There are others that will have advice also,pick what works for you.
Attempt to learn new words using your existing spanish vocabulary. Even if your grammar is poor. It will make you retain your overall vocabulary better. Consider relampigo. In Spanish I would define it, poorly I admit, as la luz que viene cuando hay una tormenta y causa el trueno.
That is three nouns three verbs and an adverb that will remain with me so long as I know that one word.
although one professor of mine has suggested that unless you go to a spanIsh speaking country you will never really learn.
I start by making a flashcard with about twenty words. Then later I add another twenty, then another twenty and so on until I have 100.
I find it better than creating several flashcards because it makes me go over what I've done before - so you not only increase you vocabulary, you remember it better. And when you do it in blocks of twenty, it makes learning 100 new words much easier.
Memrise. WWW memrise.com
Try this link , this site is fantastic in increasings one's vocabulary ,
that is what it is all about.
All of the above is really good. I also am constantly looking up words on my iphone...standing in line in the store, watching spanish TV ....just about anywhere
I find when I try to learn vocabulary in sets such as with flashcards it doesn't sink in that well, or rather it doesn't connect unless I use it in a sentence. Palabra del día is great though, need to do more of that.
Join some of the vocabulary games on this site, like Word of the Day, Palabra del Día, Recuperación de Palabras, Drop One Take one. There are many, many flashcard sets too on this site (under Learn on toolbar).
I try to do these and others that other members offer on the Q & A games. It has really helped and it's fun so I don't get bored.
Teasip said:
I find when I try to learn vocabulary in sets such as with flashcards it doesn't sink in that well, or rather it doesn't connect unless I use it in a sentence...
Yes! Flashcards are definitely the answer to a large vocabulary; however, you must write them down in sentences to really retain the word and how it's used.
I put a set of 20 beside my bed and reviewed them each morning when I woke up and each night before bed. I changed the 20 when I knew the words. At the end of the month I'd go through the sets and make sure that I retained the info.
Thank you for all the great responses. I found help in each of them.
