15 top tips for increasing your range of vocabulary!

Vocabulary is a key part of learning a new language. But what’s the best way to pick up new words and remember them? Here are our top tips for building up your vocabulary.

1 Read & listen!
The best way to learn new words is to do it the natural way: by reading and listening to lots of English. And if you read and listen to things that you’re really interested in, you’ll improve your range of vocabulary without even realising it as you absorb language within interesting content.
2 Guess!
Interestingly, studies have shown that the more effort you put into working out what a word means, the easier it is to remember. So, instead of reaching for the dictionary, try to guess the meaning of any difficult words.
3 Focus!
There are thousands of words and expressions in English. But which ones do you need to learn? The answer is simple: high-frequency words. You can find high-frequency words in dialogues or conversations. Interestingly, a study by Oxford Online has found that the top 3,000 words in English make up 70% of the words we use.

4 Think context!
Make a note of any words you want to learn in sentences – never as individual words. When language is in context, you can see how the words fit together and how they’re used. Also, try grouping words into categories or themes: food words, marketing terms… Studies have shown that we group words in our brains according to themes or topics. So, if you do this with the words you want to learn, they’ll be easier to remember.
Once you’ve identified the words you want to learn, you’ll find that some are easier to remember than others. Here are our top tips for learning the difficult ones.
5 Write them out!
Studies have shown that when we write out words, we form a visual representation of them in our heads, and this helps with memory.
6 Break them down!
Break down any long or complicated words. For example, by taking away the prefix (un) and the suffix (able) from the word uncomfortable, you’re left with comfort, which is probably a word you already know.
7 Use them!
Use any new words as often as you can. Studies have shown that after you’ve used a new word three times, you’ll never forget it.
8 Read & listen… again!
Keep reading and listening as much as possible. The more you read and listen the greater the possibility of finding your target word in different contexts, which will help you learn more about it.
9 See them!
Try to find a picture of the word you want to learn. Seeing an image of it is often a really quick and easy way to learn it.
10 Say them!
Repeating words out loud will help you remember them. Studies have shown that verbalising language helps you internalise it.
11 Compare them!
Find as many examples as you can of your target word in sentences. Then, you’ll see it in lots of different contexts. Simply type your target word into Google and write “+ in a sentence”. Then, print off the results.
12 Record them!
Use a voice recorder to record yourself saying the target words in sentences. Then, use an MP3 player to listen to the sentences while you’re waiting for a bus, relaxing on the sofa or walking along the street. Tests have shown that the more ways language enters your head (through sight, hearing, etc.) the easier it is to remember.
13 Check them!
Use flashcards to review your progress. Write your target word in a sentence on one side of a flashcard and a definition on the other side. Then, test yourself during the day. If you’ve got a smartphone or tablet computer, you could use flashcard apps such as Anki or Quizlet.
14 Translate them!
Translate a sentence with the key word in it. Then, test yourself by covering up the English version and trying to translate the sentence from your language into English.
15 Get creative!
Use mnemonics for really difficult words. Mnemonics (pronounced “nemonics”) are memory aids such as pictures, poems, rhymes and stories, that you can use to help you remember things. For example, a Spanish student was having difficulty with the word “hill” (a small mountain). So, he drew a picture of Jesus Gil (a famous politician) on a hill (the surname “Gil” has a similar pronunciation to the word “hill”). After that, she never forgot the word. Try making connections between English words and words in your own language.
Have fun learning new words!
Copyright © 2014 by Hot English Publishing