Snap Language

If you are curious about new words, it will be easier to learn them. If you are not curious about something, why would you even try to learn it?

Some people stop learning new words after they learn 1,000 to 2,000 words in a new language. They can communicate basic ideas using those words, so they stop paying attention to new vocabulary. If you do not care about learning new words, you probably will not.

It is good to be interested in learning vocabulary, but it is not good if you become obsessed over it. Obsessing over something can stress you out and frustrate you. Then you will not want to learn it anymore.

Besides, learning a language is more than just learning vocabulary. Do not get so obsessed with vocabulary that you forget other important parts of the language.

When you work on other language skills, your vocabulary will improve, too. For example, when you read, you see vocabulary words you do not know. When you read frequently, you may see those words again and again. You learn new words without getting obsessed.

Learning in Context

Learning word lists is okay, but it takes a lot of time and energy. Learning vocabulary is easier when you learn words in context.

Language textbooks generally introduce vocabulary in dialogs or short passages so that you see how words are used. If you look at a word list, there is no context, so it is more difficult to understand and remember each word later.

Where to Find Vocabulary in Context

You can find vocabulary in context when you engage in active and passive activities. Passive activities are those where you see how other people use vocabulary; active activities are those where you use the words yourself.

Here are some ways to find vocabulary in context:

Passive ways

• Studying language textbooks;
• Reading materials you choose (web sites, novels, the news, and so on);
• Watching materials you choose (movies, the news on TV, YouTube videos, and so on);
• Listening to materials you choose (podcasts, radio, music, and so on).

Active ways

• Speaking about different topics whenever possible, paying attention to new words, and then using the words yourself.
• Writing about topics you choose (keeping a journal, writing a blog, and so on) and using the words you are learning and looking up words you do not know.

Snap Language (and Snap Language Learner) is always developing (or building) new materials for English-language learners. Take a look at our reading materials and YouTube videos.

Context of Language and Culture

Another reason to learn vocabulary in context is that a language exists in a social and cultural context. When you learn vocabulary in context, you also learn in what social and cultural context words and expressions are used.

This passage about levels of formality in American language and culture has more information on this topic.

Vocabulary as Expressions

In addition,

• when you learn a new adjective, learn its comparative and superlative forms;
• when you learn a new noun, learn its irregular plural forms;
• when you learn a new verb, learn its forms and prepositions that go with it;
• and so on.

You can usually find this type of information in a good dictionary, which should include examples of how to use the word in context. (We will discuss that in Tip 5 later.)

Especially when you are still developing your language skills, first learn the vocabulary you need to communicate your ideas well. What you need depends on you because each person has different interests.

For example, if you are learning English to have informal conversations, focus on vocabulary that people use everyday. If you are also learning English to read about science and history, you should focus on vocabulary you need for those topics first.

Some dictionaries are very good; others, not so much. A good dictionary gives you clear definitions and example sentences so that you know how to use the words.

A good dictionary also shows you how to pronounce the words. Many dictionaries use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to show the pronunciation.

What does the IPA look like? For example, in IPA they transcribe the words “apple” and “back” as /ˈæpəl/ and /bæk/. Each time you see the symbol æ in a dictionary that uses the IPA, you will know how it should sound.

You can learn IPA by yourself. Many online dictionaries let you listen to the pronunciation of words. Look at the IPA transcription and listen to the pronunciation. With practice, you will learn how to pronounce new words just by looking at the IPA symbols.

If you are interested in learning IPA, check out the lists of listening-skill lessons and speaking-skill lessons.

When we are learning a new language, we forget new words very quickly. To help remember, many language learners list new words in a notebook. Keeping a notebook helps you find the words easily and forces you to write down the words so you practice spelling.

If you decide to keep a notebook, write down the word, the meaning, and one or two example sentences.

Review your vocabulary frequently. This way, you will know which words you still need to memorize.

We are all different. What works for one person may not work for another. Try different things to learn vocabulary, and see what works well for you.

Just do not forget that there are other language skills you need to learn, too.