Three Major Vocabulary Building Tips
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.”
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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.
I liked the design of your blog.Simple and interesting.How many languages do you know?Do you think learning a language is interesting?
Comment by Talkingbees' Blog -Learn Hindi-Bengali-Music — August 24, 2011 @ 08:53
Very important to practice what you have learned. It fades easily and quickly. Songs are a great way to retain what you’ve learned!
Comment by Skype English Lessons — September 3, 2011 @ 22:06
WAYS TO MASTER ENGLISH VOCABULARY.
I believe the best way to learn English vocabulary is by topics with explanations of meaning, examples of usage and subsequent exercises. It is possible to practise English vocabulary through exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.
1. Learners of English should have lists of difficult word meanings and of phrases (expressions) on every topic with usage sentences. They must read those ready-made vocabulary usage sentences many times if needed. Longman Language Activator Dictionary (unique English Idea Production Dictionary) covers this issue thoroughly. It is helpful for learners to make up their own sentences with that vocabulary, taking into consideration real life situations.
2. Students of English can learn a lot of vocabulary on every topic from thematic English dictionaries. Good thematic English dictionaries provide clear word usage explanations and also a few usage sentences for each word meaning, which is especially important. It is essential that students of English also make up their own sentences with difficult vocabulary. They should think about the real life situations where and when that vocabulary can be used.
3. Do ready-made exercises from textbooks in vocabulary practice. Exercises in vocabulary practice can include dialogues, narrations (telling stories), thematic texts, questions and answers in various situations, discussions, talking points and expressing opinions and views on real life topics and issues.
4. Learners can also master new English vocabulary by reading thematic texts (materials), first of all on everyday topics with important content, for example: Practical Tips and Advice to Make Everyday Life Easier and Better (practical solutions for everyday problems). Such self-help books on settling everyday matters are available at book stores.
Learners must write down unknown vocabulary in whole sentences. It is essential that they practise telling the content of the texts that they have read.
5.Thematic general English dictionaries combined with English synonym dictionaries are a valuable tool for mastering English vocabulary logically, comprehensively and intensively for real life needs of learners. English synonym dictionaries provide usage explanations and usage examples for words with similar meaning.
THEMATIC GENERAL ENGLISH DICTIONARIES (extremely important for logical and quicker vocabulary acquisition):
1. Longman Language Activator (Unique idea production English dictionary, very valuable for solid vocabulary acquisition).
There is also Longman Pocket Activator Dictionary. Longman English dictionaries are the most authoritative.
2. Longman Lexicon of Contemporary English.
3. The Oxford-Duden Pictorial English Dictionary (by J. Pheby, 1995, 816 pages).
4. Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary.
5. Word Menu (dictionary by Stephen Glazier, Random House, USA, over 75 000 words arranged by subject matter).
6. Cambridge Word Selector/Routes.
7. NTC’s Dictionary of Everyday American English Expressions (over 7, 000 phrases arranged by topics).
ENGLISH VOCABULARY BUILDING BOOKS:
1. Merriam-Webster’s Vocabulary Builder (book by Mary Wood Cornog, 2010, new edition, 712 pages).
2. Webster’s New Explorer Vocabulary Skill Builder (2008, 576 pages).
3. Word Power Made Easy (book by Norman Lewis, 1991, 528 pages).
4. How to Build a Better Vocabulary (book, 384 pages).
5. English Vocabulary Organiser (book by Chris Gough, 100 topics, 2000, 224 pages).
6. Phrasal Verb Organiser (book by John Flower).
Comment by Michael Shelby — September 6, 2011 @ 11:53
LEARNING ENGLISH IDIOMS.
In my view the best way to learn English idioms (fixed expressions) is by topics with explanations of meaning, examples of usage and subsequent exercises. Practising idioms can be done through exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. I suggest the following sequence of learning English idioms (5-10 idioms per lesson):
1. Read clear precise meanings of idioms with usage examples in several realistic sentences in a good thematic dictionary of English idioms.
2. Make up your own sentences for using idioms in real life situations.
3. Do ready-made exercises from text books in idioms practice. Exercises in idioms practice can include dialogues, narrations (telling stories), thematic texts, questions and answers with idioms in various situations, discussions, talking points and expressing opinions and views on real life topics and issues.
The most comprehensive aids for learning English idioms are dictionaries of English idioms that contain thematic arrangement of idioms.
Below is the list of the most important dictionaries of English idioms:
1. Longman Idioms Dictionary (over 6,000 idioms; choose the right idiom with the unique Idiom Activator).
2. Longman American Idioms Dictionary (over 4,000 idioms).
3. Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms (7,000 idioms ; with 15 topic classification of idioms).
4. Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms (6,000 idiom expressions, has a thematic index of idioms)
5. Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (over 5,000 idioms, with a thematic index of idioms).
6. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms (volumes 1, 2).
7. Oxford Idioms Dictionary for Learners of English (10,000 idioms).
8. NTC’s Dictionary of Everyday American English Expressions (over 7,000 expressions presented according to topic and situation).
9. NTC’s Thematic Dictionary of American Idioms (900 thematic headings).
The English language is rich in idioms, and although it is possible to converse correctly in non-idiomatic English, a student with only a superficial knowledge of English idioms will find himself (or herself) at a serious disadvantage in his (her) reading, and even more so when he (she) takes part in discussions and debates. Ready-made copious usage sentences of English idioms taken from real life offer guidance on the most effective way to use them. The English Idiom Dictionaries listed by me in this post provide clear idiom usage explanations and several realistic idiom usage sentences. Many native English speakers, especially when they converse among themselves use idioms, informal colloquial expressions and slang.
Comment by Michael Shelby — September 6, 2011 @ 12:03
Want to learn a new language – Speak the language.
At the blok “Want-to-learn-how-to-learn” – link http://want-to-learn-how-to-learn.blogspot.com/ there is a video. It tells how important it is to speak the language you want to learn.
Comment by M S — September 25, 2011 @ 05:27
This site is very informative and worth visiting every now and then. Please up the good work!
Comment by RedMat — September 26, 2011 @ 11:43
Interests, interests, interests. Why struggle reading through a English book you don’t enjoy. Pick up reading and watch movies that interest you. You will find yourself far more motivated if you relate what you’re learning to your true passion. Unless you true passion is just English.
Comment by Skype English Lessons — October 12, 2011 @ 03:53
Conversation Clubs through Virtual chat rooms and private groups are excellent choices to enhance your learning, even better if they are moderated by native professional teachers. Practicing your English while having conversations about current issues and sharing with people from all over the world, while getting accustomed to different accents is paramount when your goal is make yourself truly bilingual. You need to choose a method that guarantees having access to teachers in real-time, using technology that integrates printed, multimedia, and interactive resources to ensure the best results is the way to go, it is enjoying the best of traveling from home.
Comment by Sigma English Online — October 27, 2011 @ 09:25
Reading can be of great help in building vocabulary.Yes, reading with understanding will help grow faster. It allows pronunciation and accent to develop.Reading by heart boosts the power of grasping and helps communication skills to develop to a great extent.
Comment by kalyan brata das — December 1, 2011 @ 06:47