Reply
Fri 14 Sep, 2012 01:10 pm
Learners can improve their English vocabulary in the following ways:
a) when doing English grammar exercises;
b) when practising speaking on various topics;
c) when reading various materials in English on a multitude of topics;
d) when listening to audio and video recordings with diverse content.
I believe the best way to learn English vocabulary is by topics with explanations of meaning, examples of usage in sentences and with subsequent exercises.
It is possible to practise English vocabulary through exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.
1. Do ready-made lexical exercises from textbooks in vocabulary practice. Exercises in vocabulary practice can include dialogues, narrations (telling stories), thematic texts, questions and answers in various situations, discussions, talking points and expressing opinions and views on real life topics and issues, etc.
2. Learners can also master new English vocabulary by reading thematic texts (materials), first of all on everyday topics with important content, for example: Practical Tips and Advice to Make Everyday Life Easier and Better (practical solutions for everyday problems). Such self-help books on settling everyday matters are available at libraries, book stores and on the Internet. It is better for easier memorisation to write down unknown vocabulary in whole sentences. It is expedient for learners to practise telling the content of the texts that they have read.
3. Students of English can learn a lot of vocabulary on every topic from thematic English dictionaries. Good thematic English dictionaries provide clear word usage explanations and also a few usage sentences for each word meaning, which is especially important. It is a good practice for students to make up their own sentences with difficult vocabulary for potential use in daily life. Think about real life situations where and when that vocabulary can be used.
4. It is helpful for learners to have lists of difficult word meanings and of phrases (expressions) on every topic with usage sentences. By reading those ready-made vocabulary usage sentences many times if needed learners will gradually master the vocabulary. Longman Language Activator Dictionary (unique English Idea Production Dictionary) covers this issue thoroughly. It is useful for learners to make up their own sentences with that vocabulary, taking into consideration real life situations.
5. Thematic general English dictionaries combined with English synonym dictionaries are a valuable tool for mastering English vocabulary logically, comprehensively and intensively for real life needs of learners. English synonym dictionaries provide usage explanations and usage examples for words with similar meaning.
Summary: Thematic English reading materials can be combined with English phrase books, conversation books, thematic English dictionaries, English synonym dictionaries and vocabulary practice books (with lexical exercises) for comprehensive, logical and intensive learning of English vocabulary.
All right. You seem to have covered the topic pretty well. Where do you expect this thread to go from here?
@MontereyJack,
It ought to be helpful for all learners and maybe useful for some teachers of English (ESL/EFL).
@Complete,
Not sure how well this might help, but try turning on the Closed Caption on your TV. Read what is being said. This way you get a visual with the spoken word.
My youngest son is deaf, and we turned on the CC on the TV. He learned to read twice as fast as his hearing peers. So maybe it will help with learning written English.
It is a good idea to use the closed caption on your TV programs combining reading, watching (visual aid) and listening. Maybe some videos especially made for learning languages contain a script of what is being said for each scene in the video. This certainly makes understanding and remembering the content easier. And a wide variety of topics should be covered learning a language this way.
@Complete,
Such videos, if they exist, would be great if they came with written transcripts. I'm not sure about closed captions, though. I try to follow them in English (my own language), and they are just maddening.
@Complete,
Quote:It ought to be helpful for all learners and maybe useful for some teachers of English (ESL/EFL).
And even for those who are language dunces, eh, MJ?
@roger,
Quote:Such videos, if they exist, would be great if they came with written transcripts. I'm not sure about closed captions, though. I try to follow them in English (my own language), and they are just maddening.
Excellent points, Roger. All languages are learned by hearing language with appropriate context, ie. the language matches the meaning expressed by the actions of the people whether it's a video or real life.
Cartoons aimed at young children are often the most contextually rich.
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace