Vocabulary notebook #1

Learning new words can be hard and time-consuming. However, having a solid vocabulary is essential for learning a foreign language. Sitting at home, locked up in my room with a vocabulary list on my screen is not my favorite thing to do, but it is something I have to do in order to improve my English. In order to learn the vocabulary necessary for the progress check, Laura has been organizing a Google Spreadsheet. Laura is a friend of mine from class. We are a group of students who are working on the spreadsheet regularly. Laura assigns each of us a unit and a grammar chapter. We then have to work on it. We fill in the words we need to know, the definitions, synonyms, antonyms, translations and example sentences. Sometimes we also fill in the “further info” box when attention needs to be drawn at something in particular, such as the pronunciation. As soon as we are done with it we can start studying.

These are the links to our documents from SUK1 and SUK2:

SUK1: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai-faUvNNlKPdDctTWxXWUVMVnA3UFVSZTFiY2lBV3c#gid=26

SUK2: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai-faUvNNlKPdE1vTWRiQjVBZTJCWTUtdHZSeDhobmc#gid=26

SUK3: I cannot give you the link to the SUK3 document because we put a lot of work and effort in it and it we want to keep it private.

So how do I learn vocabulary? I read through the list a couple of times. The first time I read the words and the definitions. The second time I look at which words I already know and which still need working on. Knowing a word does not mean knowing only its translation. It also means knowing how to use the word, its synonym and antonyms, as well as knowing how to use it in a sentence. After I know how many words I have to learn, I start re-reading the list. Repeat, repeat, repeat. There is no other way. Since I prefer to hold a piece of paper in my hands I also write certain words on sticky notes. Usually those words are the ones I have problems with, in terms of pronunciation, knowing their meaning or using them in a sentence. What also helps me is making connections to my mother tongue, Croatian. Some words sound similar and have the same meaning so that helps me a lot too. Another way to remember new words is to use them in a sentence. Make the sentences as fun as possible. You are likely to remember a fun sentence with a new word than a sentence that is a mere definition of the word. I hope you can apply some of my study techniques yourself. Studying vocabulary is not the most fun way to spend you weekend, but believe me, in the end it will be worth it.

XOXO A.

 “As vocabulary is reduced, so are the number of feelings you can express, the number of events you can describe, the number of the things you can identify! Not only understanding is limited, but also experience. Man grows by language. Whenever he limits language he retrogresses!”

Sheri S. Tepper, A Plague of Angels