Finally, review it in a couple of days after that. However, repeating them a hundred times over the course of one day will not be as effective as repeating them a few times over a period of several days or weeks (i.e., spaced repetition). Repetition fixes new words in your memory. Tip: There are a lot of mnemonics available online, such as the ‘mems’ created by users in Memrise, but you will have a better chance of remembering the word if you invent your own. Here are a few mnemonics created by my students: I find this technique especially effective when I need to recall words that are hard to spell. Try to create a funny phrase or story that will strengthen the connection between the word and its meaning (known as a mnemonic). Tip: In addition to the image of the word, look at word associations in the visual dictionary and thesaurus Visuwords. This method works well with idioms, such as 'to keep one’s mouth shut' (informal), meaning, 'to not talk about something'. Visualise what the word or phrase looks likeĭrawing what the word means, either on paper or in your imagination, will help you recall the meaning of the word whenever you hear it. Just type in the word, choose the speaker and practise.Ĥ. Tip: On Forvo, you can listen to native and non-native speakers from different parts of the world pronouncing different words and phrases. Does it sound the way you heard it with your inner ear? Record yourself saying it and listen to the recording. Try the following: listen to a word/phrase once, now listen to it inside your head, then say it inside your head, then say it aloud. To learn a word, you need to get into the world of your inner voice. Learning is essentially an internal process. There are many comics available online, including those for language learners, like Grammarman, which you can also listen to while you read. If you love reading, try reading short texts, such as cartoon strips. For example, this ' SpeakSmart' collection on Instagram has different scenes from popular television series giving examples of particular words and phrases in use. You can also find other interesting resources featuring words in context. There are interactive captions, so if you tap on any word, you will see an image, definition and useful examples. Tip: If you are into learning with video, TV and films, try FluentU. Similarly, instead of memorising 33 ways of saying ‘hello’, learn it in a script, such as: ‘Hello, how are you? – I’m fine, thank you’. This way, you make sure that you know how to actually use this verb in at least one sentence. For example, instead of memorising the phrasal verb ‘to come up with’, memorise it as part of the phrase ‘to come up with an idea’. small phrases that combine several words) and ‘scripts’ (i.e. We retain words better when we learn them in small ‘chunks’ (i.e. There are also discussion boards under activities, so you can share your ideas with other learners. No matter what topic interests you, you will always find something there. Tip: The British Council LearnEnglish website features tons of interactive videos, games and podcasts. For example, if you are a football fan, there are more chances you will remember the word 'unstoppable' in a sentence, such as 'Messi is unstoppable', rather than just as a single word or in a generic sentence, e.g. You will be more likely to remember a new word if it is used in a context you find interesting or are passionate about. Word lists and index cards are great for revisiting vocabulary you have already learned, but to make a new word stick in your mind, try linking it with something meaningful to you. Making lists or index cards with random words is not usually an effective way to remember and use these words later. Here are ten strategies to help you make words stick in your mind and use them in conversation. Remembering and using new words in speech is often a challenge for language learners. However, when it comes to speaking, the new words seem to fall out of your head, so you resort to your old friends – words you already know and have used many times – again and again. You plough through new words every day, make long lists of words and practise with flashcards. Teacher and teacher trainer Svetlana Kandybovich, our latest TeachingEnglish blog award winner, shares her top tips for remembering new words.Īs a language learner, you work hard to expand your vocabulary.
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