How Can You Improve Your Vocabulary Learning?

Some language learners only use vocabulary lists from textbooks or the Internet for their vocabulary learning. However, these lists often should pay more attention to your needs. It doesn’t necessarily make sense to learn vocabulary mechanically; moreover, many vocabulary items in the lists you will probably never need in life.

Other language learners use movies or books to collect vocabulary. However, there are two things to be improved. First, movies and books should be shorter. You stay on a topic for days or weeks and get distracted by background noise in movies, not to mention the speed of speech and the accent.

Vocabulary Learning With News Programs

What about news programs or documentaries? Podcasts are also suitable. On the one hand, the hosts speak very clearly, and on the other hand, there is no regional accent. Of course, this makes vocabulary learning easier. Also, the individual messages of the news are short, so you keep dealing with different topics, which makes learning very varied.

Newspapers or magazines are also suitable for this technique. Alternatively, you can use blog articles. So you can easily focus on a topic and only learn what you need. But, of course, you are also dealing with issues of interest to you.

How Does It Work?

You read a newspaper or magazine article and write down all the interesting words, phrases, and word connections on a piece of paper or directly on the computer. Pay particular attention to standard word connections. These records are unsorted; the follow-up only takes place in the next step.

It works the same way for TV and radio shows. First, you listen to or watch the show and write down interesting word connections, phrases, and words here. Then, if you can no longer follow the show, stop the show and only press Start again when you have written down everything necessary. Podcasts make it even easier: very often, there is transcription so that you can listen and read simultaneously.

What Is The Next Step Of Vocabulary Learning?

Now you have an unsorted list of vocabulary and some steps ahead of you.

You sort your list. Would you like to add, delete, or reorder something?

You organize the found vocabulary according to specific criteria: topics, structure, word type – whatever you want.

You actively use vocabulary, which is very conducive to vocabulary learning. Write sentences, find other words from the same word family, add related terms, and take care of the structures. It is important to use the vocabulary actively.

Now you have several options. Create your course with an online vocabulary trainer. Keep a vocabulary book or write flashcards. Draw a mind map. Write example sentences or entire stories. Write a text summary of the original text. Interview the author and ask him questions – of course, you will answer them yourself. Write a comment on the website/YouTube video in question with (or without) the vocabulary you want to learn. Upload a photo of one of your own constellations.

You will find that the constellations are an excellent template for vocabulary learning. So you learn with exciting and personalized content.

Why Should You Write Down Word Connections?

You can find words in a dictionary. Word connections are often not easy to find, and you don’t have to worry about the many small words also part of the connections. You will learn them automatically. You can compare it to a Lego castle. If you already put different elements together, you are also done with the entire castle faster; besides, it is much easier. The same is true of vocabulary learning. You will notice the effect quickly – and finally appreciate it very much.

Now It’s Your Turn!

Find exciting material in news programs, documentaries, podcasts, newspapers, or blog articles, and try out the technique. You’ll love it! So, vocabulary learning is easy and a lot of fun.