We’ve put some tips here to help you remember new words. We hope they help!
Write it down!
Write down the words you want to learn and keep them all in one place. Some people like to do this on a device. (Tablets can be especially helpful with this, but also a notes facility on a mobile phone.) For other people, the act of physically writing a word with a pen helps them to remember it. For them, an old-fashioned paper notebook is ideal!
Keep looking!
Keep looking at your new words. It may help to do this at a particular time of the day so that you get into the habit. The more times you see a new word, the more effectively you’ll memorize it. Make sure you’re carrying your words with you so you can learn them when you find you have a bit of spare time. Ten minutes in a café while you’re waiting for a friend, a train or bus journey, even waiting in a queue – these are all great opportunities to learn your words.
Make it fun!
Consider making a set of flashcards (small cards with words to learn on one side and translations on the other). There are a few things you can do with flashcards. You can start by looking at the English words and seeing if you can remember what they are in your language. Then, you can progress to looking at the words in your language, and trying to remember the English words. You can also lay the cards out on the table and see how many words you can get right before turning them over. It’s a great way of turning the hard work of vocabulary-learning into a fun quiz.
Learn the word in context
It’s quite possible to learn some words without seeing them in context. For example, you can learn lists of words for items of food, pieces of clothing, the months of the year, etc. But most words are easier to learn if you read them in context. Consider writing an example sentence containing the word under the word itself and re-read this every time you read the word.
Use your new words
Try to use your new words, whether in speech or in writing. When you actively use a new word, it helps you to remember it.
Be realistic
Be realistic about how many words you can learn at any point. We think five a day is a good number – challenging, but definitely possible!
Stay motivated and positive!
Finally, try to think of vocabulary learning as the easy bit of language learning. Unlike grammar, there are no hard rules to learn. It’s just a case of making an effort to learn and keep hold of words – the more, the better!
For more help with vocabulary learning, see our post Everything you need to know about improving your English vocabulary.
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