Overview
Building a good vocabulary is an important part of success in English. It helps students to more easily understand what is read, as well as having more words to choose from when writing an essay or a paper. A good vocabulary helps people communicate in all walks of life, both in school and in the workplace.
Read Widely
The most important way to build vocabulary is to read a variety of books and publications and note any unfamiliar or unusual words. The novels and stories read in English classes and other classes are only a starting point. Many authors have written other books than those read in class. Charles Dickens wrote many more books than A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities. Newspapers such as The New York Times or The Seattle Times can be read online. Periodicals such as Sports Illustrated, Time, or National Geographic have articles that are informative and interesting. Reader’s Digest has regular columns for building word power, introducing unfamiliar words and words in unusual contexts.
Make a List
Keep a running list of unusual or unfamiliar words, along with definitions that make sense. Students can make flash cards of those words and quiz themselves or quiz one another. If those vocabulary words are going to be part of a test, it is better to practice them over several sessions than all at once.
Watch for New Words
It is always surprising how many times a new word will appear in different contexts. Suppose you read about agents trying to avoid setting off the alarms of a proximity detector. The proximity detector is set off when someone or something comes too close to it. Next, you hear about a surfboard shop in close proximity to the beach. Finally, you see a news report about people protesting a new airport runway because it is to be built in proximity to their houses.
Imagine the Word
Whether you are learning vocabulary to expand your knowledge or for upcoming SAT or ACT tests, one good strategy is to imagine the word in a meaningful context. It will be easier to remember that your friend Larry is very talkative, even loquacious, than to write the word loquacious without a context. Similarly, try imagining an artist drawing a picture for the word depict. The roof of a mine is weakened and collapses when its support beams are sabotaged, undermining it. The word erroneous begins with an error.
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