Boost Your Vocabulary: Fun Strategies Beyond the Dictionary
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Chapter 1: Fun Vocabulary Expansion Techniques
One of the major hurdles I encountered in enhancing my vocabulary was discovering a method to acquire new words that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of reading. If you’ve ever paused to consult a pocket dictionary mid-read, you know how frustrating it can be! The most disheartening aspect is often forgetting the words you thought you had mastered. Although the Oxford English Dictionary boasts approximately 600,000 word forms, only about 171,476 are actively used. Learning all of them isn’t realistic; hence, this article presents four effective strategies I employed to broaden both my passive and active vocabulary without over-relying on dictionaries or delving into Latin.
This list includes various tactics, such as creating your own word database, exploring word families, and watching TV shows that frequently use sophisticated vocabulary. You can adopt one or more of these approaches, as they complement each other well.
Section 1.1: E-Reading for Efficiency
To reduce the habit of checking a dictionary during reading, consider switching to e-books on devices like an iPad or Kindle.
Why lug around a dictionary when your e-reading app has a built-in one? When you encounter a new word in an e-book, simply tap and choose the "Look Up" option. This method not only saves time but also helps maintain your focus.
While it’s tempting to look up every unfamiliar word, it’s advisable to limit yourself to a few per page or chapter. I typically ask myself these two questions before seeking definitions:
- Do I grasp the overall meaning of the sentence? If context provides enough understanding, there's no need to look it up.
- Is this word recurring throughout the text? If it appears frequently, it's worthwhile to learn its definition.
If you prefer printed books—understandably so!—I recommend utilizing an online dictionary. It allows for rapid word searches, just like an e-book, and is always accessible on your smartphone. Remember to apply the two questions above to prevent excessive dictionary use.
I’ve utilized online dictionaries to enhance my vocabulary in languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian, with fantastic results. Personally, I favor the Oxford Dictionary for English due to its speed and user-friendly interface. For those learning vocabulary in a foreign language, remember that flashcards can be more effective than applications like Duolingo. In this article, I detail how I successfully used flashcards to master numerous words from "A Guerra dos Tronos" (Game of Thrones in Portuguese).
How to Increase Your Vocabulary - This video explores various methods to effectively expand your vocabulary without relying solely on traditional methods.
Section 1.2: Creating Your Word Database
A dictionary serves as a vast database of words in a language. Since learning every word is impractical, think about developing your own word database to minimize dictionary dependency.
Previously, I maintained a journal titled "Word of the Day," where I recorded a new word each day in a notebook or on my iPhone’s notes app. However, as my list grew, it became chaotic and disorganized.
Thus, I transitioned to a more structured format, using an Excel or Google spreadsheet. I personally use the Notion app to track new vocabulary. A database becomes invaluable once you accumulate numerous words, as it allows for easy searching and sorting based on your preferred tags.
Here’s my process for adding new words in Notion (it’s similar in Excel):
- I highlight new words while reading.
- After finishing a section, I copy the highlighted words into my database.
- I then add columns for definitions, tags, examples, and related word families.
The final output appears like this:
I strive to define words in my own terms, include root references, and create examples that showcase real-life usage (if a word lacks practical application, I question its value). Tags can vary; I sometimes add prefixes and suffixes to group words with similar meanings for easier study. Understanding word families enables me to learn multiple words simultaneously rather than just one.
Section 1.3: Learning Through Word Families and Foreign Languages
I won’t require you to learn Latin to enhance your vocabulary (unless you wish to). I’ve never studied Latin myself, as it’s a dead language with no native speakers to converse with. Instead, I recommend focusing on Romance languages like French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or Romanian, as they evolved from Latin.
My proficiency in Spanish and Portuguese has allowed me to recognize many English terms. For instance, the word "impoverishment" is related to the Spanish/Portuguese "pobre" and the French "pauvre." The prefix "-in" suggests “in” or “into,” thus conveying the idea of "into poverty."
Now that we understand how learning a foreign language can help you acquire multiple words, let’s explore how word families—groups of words sharing a common root or meaning—can aid in vocabulary building.
Research from the British National Corpus has identified 28-word family lists categorized by difficulty.
For example, I created a searchable table displaying base words and their corresponding families at "level 6." If you learn a new word, you can easily find its related words by searching in the table. Typing "impoverishment" will reveal "impoverish" and "impoverished." The frequency of these word families is based on corpus analysis, so basic words are the most commonly used, while advanced words appear less frequently.
If you’re interested, I can compile these lists for you to search word families easily. You can also find them in the "nearby words" section of online dictionaries like Oxford.
Section 1.4: Leveraging Television for Vocabulary Growth
This last method to enhance your vocabulary may come as a surprise, but yes, television can indeed assist in vocabulary expansion (particularly your passive vocabulary).
Research indicates that TV can aid language learners in acquiring new words through repetition. When you hear a word in one episode, encountering it again allows you to recognize it more easily the next time.
Previously, I conducted a data analysis of vocabulary in Netflix shows and Disney movies, focusing on word families. I discovered that documentaries are particularly beneficial for English speakers aiming to enhance their vocabulary.
How to Improve Your Vocabulary in Writing - This video delves into effective strategies for enhancing your vocabulary specifically in writing.
According to my findings, content featuring advanced vocabulary—mostly documentaries—appears on the left side of the plot. I usually advise foreign language learners to watch content on the right side, which tends to have simpler vocabulary. However, for native English speakers looking to expand their vocabulary, I recommend seeking out advanced content on platforms like Netflix.
If you’re learning a foreign language (especially a Romance language), you’ll be pleased to know that TV shows can significantly boost your vocabulary. My analysis revealed specific shows that maximize your chances of learning new words through repetition, emphasizing the importance of choosing programs with higher word repetition rates.
Reading alone isn’t sufficient for achieving fluency in a foreign language. Join our YouTube channel, which has over 1,000 subscribers, to complement your language learning journey by watching your favorite shows and movies!