How to Improve your English Vocabulary
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY
English is one of the most commonly used languages in international communication. It is the official language of more than 50 countries in the world. Besides, English is required in many scholarships abroad which is why we have to learn English as early as possible.
In learning English as in any other language, one of the most important aspects is having a rich vocabulary. A strong vocabulary is a key asset when it comes to mastering a language. If you know a lot of words, it will be easier to have a good command of the language. It can also enhance your reading, writing and comprehension skills.
Here are some tips on how to improve your English vocabulary.
1. Get a dictionary. It can help you know the meaning of words that you havent heard of before easily. You can try highlighting words that you already know and then keep on adding more vocabulary until you have highlighted as many words as you can. Also, when you encounter an unfamiliar word, know the meaning of the word as soon as possible and try to know its usage in sentences. Before you know it, youll have learned a lot of new words which can help you advance in your English studies.
2. Read English books regularly. One way to improve your vocabulary is by reading. It is the most effective way to encounter new words in context. If you dont like reading novels, read short stories. They can be very entertaining and can enrich your English. Poems and short articles or news stories are also alternatives if you dont like reading materials that take long to read. You can keep a journal to jot down unfamiliar words, their meanings and example sentences.
3. Watch TV/movie programs in English. Watching movies, new or other programs can help you improve your vocabulary. If you have difficulty catching up to what you hear, try to put subtitles on the shows you are watching. However, try not to be too dependent on subtitles. Once you think you can understand what you hear better, remove the subtitles and try understanding the shows just by listening.
4. Write regularly. Practice writing essays, stories or journals in English. The act of composing sentences and paragraphs can reinforce your vocabulary usage. Keep a daily diary or journal that you can re-read from time to time.
5. Take extra classes. There are many institutions that provide online and offline English classes. In many of them, the lessons are usually well-structured so you will easily learn although you have to pay extra for these lessons.
6. Converse in English. Try to engage in conversations with your English teachers or friends. Regular interactions allow you to use and remember new words and help you be more confident in word usage. Try to use new words in conversations. If there are English clubs in your area you can also join them.
7. Start early. The best way to learn any language is to start early. The earlier you start, the easier for you to be able to learn quickly. Try to do it before you have the pressures of submitting school tasks and many other tasks that will occupy much of your time. It is ideal to start when you are in elementary school but if you havent started yet, it is never too late. If you plan to apply to study abroad after the 12th grade, you should try taking English classes seriously in your 10th grade so that you will have a good command in English by the time you apply for the universities or scholarships.
So, what are you waiting for? Start learning and practicing your English. It will be helpful later on. If you have other suggestions on how you can improve your English, you can leave a comment below. Who knows, it might be helpful to others.