Here are three major vocabulary building tips:

Tip #1: Read, read, read!

Reading can greatly help you in building vocabulary.

Advantages of reading:

• You can look for materials to match your own level.
• You can read at your own pace, or you can reread.
• You can then do many different activities and exercises based on what you have read.

Probably the biggest bonus with reading is the following:

When done properly, reading can be a lot of fun.

You can enjoy reading an interesting story, and improve your vocabulary at the same time.

This can be much more interesting than a “fill in the gap” exercise

However, for reading materials to reach their full effect, they really have to be both interesting and not too advanced for the student’s level.

Click here for interesting yet simple short stories for English learners.

Tip #2: Make sure you understand what you are reading!

This point might seem obvious, but actually, it is really not.

Some people think it is best not to stop on every word, but to understand the words from the context. That basically means, to guess what the word means, or to simply ignore it.

This is a common approach, but research has shown it is a problematic one. It can lead to misunderstanding and all sorts of other confusions.

It might seem like understanding from context is faster, but it doesn’t really help you in building vocabulary. It can leave you with many words you don’t really understand, or that you only think you understand.

It can slow down your progress significantly.

Here is an example:

A student reads the following sentence “It was sunny outside, so Marta brought a parasol.”

Now, what does that mean? What is a “parasol”?

You can guess, but that won’t necessarily get you to the right answer. You will probably remain unsure.

However, this can be solved easily. You can use the dictionary to find out what it really means. “Parasol” is a kind of umbrella that protects against the sun.

So now it makes sense: “It was sunny outside, so Marta brought a parasol.”

In summary, the way to build vocabulary is to learn vocabulary. Not to guess one!

And this is the point where dictionaries really come in handy.

They are wonderful tools. They help not only in finding out what a word means exactly, but also with giving examples of how the word is actually used.

And that is priceless

Click here for a list of recommended good dictionaries.

Tip #3: Practice the new words you have learned!

Okay, so you’ve learned some new words. Cool!

Now what? How can you make sure you don’t forget them?

Here we discover the importance of practice.

Make sure you practice the new words.

Now, practice doesn’t have to be boring. You can turn it into a game, make it fun!

Click here for a list of vocabulary activities you can use to practice new words.

When teaching beginners, usually the following steps apply:

1) Use some games to teach very basic, easy vocabulary.
Flashcards, for example, can be both fun and effective.

2) Teach the sounds of the English alphabet.
English is pretty tricky, in a way, since the same letter can represent many different sounds!

This can be VERY confusing for beginners, especially if they have just learned the English alphabet.

For example, they have just learned that “e” is pronounced like the “e” in “bed,” and “a” is pronounced like the “a” in “hat.”

Then you read together a simple short story that uses only the simple, common words . . .
Like “make” and “take,” which immediately violate that rule, don’t they?

It’s true you can (and should!) teach the different spelling patterns, and how they are pronounced. (In our example these are the silent “e”, and the long “a” sounds.)

But you can’t really do it all at once.
The step-by-step approach is the way to go — one sound at a time.

Start practicing reading with simple, one-syllable words, such as: box, fox, cat, hat, bed, pen, and so forth. Introduce new sounds gradually .

Wait with the common yet complicated words such as “are,” “have,” “would,” and “know” until the student is comfortable with the simple, basic sounds.

It’s true these are very common, important words in the English language, but when taught at the wrong stage they can provide unnecessary spelling confusion.

You can always teach them a bit later on, when the student is more confident.

This sort of gradual approach will bring the best results within the minimum amount of time, by far.

Ola Zur is the editor of Really Learn English Vocabulary and Easy English Grammar, an illustrated guide to English.

In many cases, the best way to improve your English fast is to immerse yourself in the language.

Why does it work so fast?

Well, when all you have in order to communicate is your English, then you simply don’t have a choice! You learn English, or you die trying

Of course, sometimes you cannot move to an English speaking country for a few years time, but there are other means we can use to try and imitate this kind of immersion.

One of those is videos.

The best thing would probably be to find videos on a subject that really interests you. Then, while watching, you should check out the new words in a good dictionary. You can use each new word in a few sentences – it will help you understand and remember it better.

Why should you choose a video on a subject that you really like?

Because it’s more fun! And it will give you more motivation to carry on through the obstacles.

The internet offers practically millions of videos, on any subject. You can watch them at your own pace, and pause whenever you need to. (Unlike shows or movies on the TV!)

You can go to websites like YouTube, or simply search for videos on your favorite subject on Google.

You can click here for the Learn English Video Section. In contains videos especially adapted for English learners.

Ola Zur is the editor of Really Learn English Vocabulary and Easy English Grammar, an illustrated guide to English.

Dictionaries are very important tools for English learners. They make things more clear, give valuable information about vocabulary, and in many cases help teach grammar.

With that said, the learner should know how to choose his dictionaries.

There are some excellent English-English dictionaries, such as the Unabridged Merriam-Webster, that can make the learner scream in horror… It is simply way too big and complicated for the average learner. Actually, it can even be way too big and complicated for the average English speaker!

Other dictionaries can be too small. They might have too little words, and too little information for each word. So they can have little or no use.

So the trick is to select the perfect one for you. You should ask yourself the following questions:

- Are the definitions clear to me? Can I easily understand them?
- Does it give enough example sentences? (These are highly helpful.)
- Does this dictionary have most of the words I am looking for?
- Can I get it together with a handy CD? (This can actually be very useful and time saving!)

There are other features that make a dictionary more desirable, such as many illustrations, usage notes, grammar notes, and other cool extras, so you might want to look for those too.

Did you know many good and popular dictionaries have a free online version? You can read about them, and about other recommended dictionaries in this English Dictionary Guide.

Ola Zur is the editor of Really Learn English Vocabulary and Easy English Grammar, an illustrated guide to English.

A great way to improve your English is to read English stories.

This actually helps on several aspects:

1) You improve your vocabulary by learning and repeating new words while reading.
2) You see how this vocabulary is used. How the words combine together, which prepositions are used and when, and other important data that can only be learned when working on entire SENTENCES and reading PASSAGES.
3) You improve your grammar by observation (simply seeing it used IN PRACTICE).
4) One of the great benefits of stories is that if well written, they can actually be fun! Funny stories, or stories with a punch line, can encourage you to read more.

However, for a story to really be an effective learning tool, it must be adjusted to YOUR level. Reading way above your level, or way below your level, would probably do very little for your English.

Find some interesting reading materials that fit you. Check any new words you encounter in a good dictionary. Try to use and practice the things you learn. And you should see your English getting better and better!

You can click here for English short stories for beginners.

Ola Zur is the editor of Really Learn English Vocabulary and Easy English Grammar, an illustrated guide to English.