HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY?

There are a few things that we can do if we are serious about improving our vocabulary.

1  Read, read and read

Aim to read at least a book a month.  Make it a habit to read magazines, newspapers and anything you can get your hand on.  Look at the way good writers write.  What are the interesting phrases and words used?

2  Look it up

Is there a particular word that is always appearing when you read?  Look it up. Keep a dictionary nearby.  You don't need to look up every word you don't know.  That would kill the joy of reading.  Look up words which will help you understand the passage better.

3  Keep a vocabulary notebook

When I was in school, my English teacher made us keep a notebook for new words we learnt.  At the end of the year, it was fun to look back at what we had collected and used.  Many words became a part of our vocabulary daily.

4  Do word puzzles and play word games
There are many online games that will help you in improving your vocabulary.  For example, go to www.wordgames.com for games such as word search, crossword puzzle and puzzles.

5  Use online dictionaries

Use the free services of online dictionaries.  Sign up to learn a word a day. Learn the pronunciation of a new word from these websites.

6  Write daily
The fastest way of learning a new word is to use it.  Write about the happenings in your school or about your life.  Look for ways to use these words aptly.  There are many students who turn to the dictionary to memorise some bombastic words to use in their essays but they ended up using them wrongly.

7  Do your own research
Find words that are associated with certain topics. Do a mind map of these words.
For example, when you think of the word 'environment', what are the words that come to your mind?  Use the Internet to help you.

Words associated with 'football' -( nouns, verbs, adjectives)

Overused words

These are some words you can use to replace the 'tired' words.

Using prefixes

Challenger 3 Prefixes

This week, write down a prefix such as ex- or dis-
and see how many words you can make from that prefix.
For example:



external, extrinsic, exterior, extraordinary, extrabiblical, extracurricular, extrapolate, extraneous, exterminator, extract, extradite, extraterrestrial, extrasensory, extravagant, extreme.....


Next, look up 'prefixes and suffixes' on the internet and copy them into your vocabulary notebook. Review what you have learnt.

Vocabulary Challenger 1

This week, I will be giving you a series of challenges which will help you develop your vocabulary.

Challenger 1:

Know Your Verbs

Can you name a verb for every alphabet from A - Z?

A - adopt

B - buy

C -

Alternatively, you can also play this game with your friends.

My Vocabulary Notebook

Finally, now that you have all the sections for your vocabulary book, it is time to put it into good use. Of course, the first thing to do is to always make sure your vocabulary notebook follows you to school. Everytime you learn a new word, decide which section the word should be recorded. Is it an idiom, a proverb or a new word? When you are at home, look at the notebook and see how you can add to it. Is there a synonym or antonym of a word you can check out? Can you draw a mindmap out of new word you have just learnt? Do this for three weeks in a row and you would have formed a new habit.

Synonyms, antonyms and context

Thus far, we have seen a few strategies to increase our vocabulary. Another section to include in your vocabulary book or journal is synonyms, antonyms and context. Usually, whenever a student comes across a new word, they are encouraged to write down the meaning of the word. I would say that you should go beyond that. The definition of a word is only the BEGINNING level of understanding. To FULLY understand and internalize word meanings and be able to use words correctly IN CONTEXT, Learn SYNONYMS for the new words, learn ANTONYMS,and the diffferent ways the word is used.

Proverbs

Another section to include is 'Useful Lists'. Copy a list of common proverbs and their meanings in this section. This list comes in useful when you are writing an essay and you can spice up your essay with an appropriate proverb.

For example: As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Therefore, it is important that a student takes time out to relax and enjoy.



Some common proverbs can be downloaded from www.englishclub.com/

Collocation

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Now, back to keeping a vocabulary notebook. I hope you have bought your new vocab book.

The next section to create in your notebook is collocations. Collocations refer to words that go together.
An example of a verb + noun collocation is:

Can you keep an eye on my bag while I buy something?

Now, try to complete the blanks below:

If you _______ a mistake, just erase it off.
You should _______ a chance and _____ for his help.
He ______ his temper easily when he is tired.
He should ____ more attention to his children at home.


Next, how many collocations can you list for the following verbs:

make, have, take

Example:

make amends
make an application

have an argument

take action




You can add to the list by searching online. This list of collocations are important when answering the cloze test in the exam as well as when writing your essays.

Improving your vocabulary with vocabulary trees

Starting this week, I will be doing a series on how to improve your vocabulary. The first thing you need to do is to get your vocabulary book done. Buy any notebook but I would prefer to get one with a hardcover as it would last longer. It should be handy to carry around with you. This notebook will be your buddy for the rest of your academic year.

The next thing that you should do is to divide the vocabulary book into a few sections. I will be introducing the various sections of your vocabulary book as we go along, so make sure you come back to check it out. The first section will be called Vocabulary Trees. Some may prefer to call it Mind-maps.

Draw the word 'school' in the middle of the page. Draw branches out of the word 'school' and list down words that come to your mind as you think about school.



Vocabulary trees help students remember words thematically. These words will be more useful to you than individual words and their meanings. If you just keep a list of words and their meanings, 50% of these words are usually not used at all.

Now, do a vocabulary tree for the following themes
(a) vehicles
(b) Cameron Highlands
(c) Examinations
(d) Computers

Another way to improve your English is to keep a vocabulary notebook. You can get a special alphabetised note book or you can make your own note book. Each time your teacher teaches and a new word crops up, copy the word and its meaning into your vocabulary book. Bring it along with you everywhere and while you are waiting for the bus or waiting for a tv programme to start, just take it out to review it. Look at the way the word is used and how it is spelt. Draw mind-maps and pictures to help you remember. Use colours creatively to make the notebook special.
The last tip in building vocabulary is to use the new words you have learnt in your essays or in your journal. Remember to look up new words in your dictionary. Jot down the correct usage and sentences. Begin to use these words in your composition.Before long, you will certainly notice that you have increased your vocab and your English has improved.