3 Simple Steps to Building a Powerful Vocabulary that You Can Easily Remember!
More Than Memorisation
Over the last 10+ years, I've spent 100s of hours researching the best ways to learn and remember vocabulary. By talking to polyglots and checking out the latest science, I've come to realise that there are 3 key steps to getting your vocabulary database setup so that you can:
- use the right words at the right time
- have them available in your mind when you need them
The end result is my own creation called USeR.
USeR | 3 Steps
U - Understand
S - Select
R - Recall
Understand
First we must fully understand the word and how it is commonly used. Usually, it is not enough to simply look the word up in a your native language:EN dictionary. It is best to use a fully English dictionary designed especially for learners that shows multiple definitions/uses with examples. My person favourite is https://learnersdictionary.com
Select
Step 2 is often ignored by learners. This step categorises a word or phrase into 3 possible categories: 1. I do not need this word 2. I just need to understand this word when I see or hear it 3. I want to be able to use this word myself.
Once you understand a word's meaning, you should decide if you need to learn it.
Not only that, but you should consider how well you want to learn it. Realise that you are sometimes the listener/reader and at other times the speaker/writer. If you only need to know the word's meaning (listener/reader), then you do not need to study it super-hard. A simple flashcard will do.
If, on the other hand, you want to use the word yourself, then you need to create a powerful flashcard with extra information in it to help you easily remember and recall the word.
Recall
This step is where the flashcards are made and practiced with.
Realise that hand-written flashcards are scientifically proven to be easier to recall. If this is not for you then there are lots of apps to help you. Make sure you choose one with spaced-repetition like Anki which is easily the most versatile app on the market.
Your Choice
Ultimately, it is up to you which system you choose. If you want to progress quickly and not waste time, then I strongly recommend a system like this.
Act Now!
If you are anything like me, you love to read articles and then do nothing. It is a real trap.
Take action now and book a lesson with your favourite teacher to boost your language skills.
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