9 Smart Tricks to Learn Vocabulary Faster

No matter how good your grammar is, if you do not know the absolute words to use it, you will not be able to advance your writing skills. Having a strong grip on vocabulary brings you countless benefits. It is not only limited to your academics. According to most of the students who have now become the best professionals in their industry agree that their writing skills and vocabulary have really played an important role when it comes to organizational communications.

Although expanding the number of words in your vocabulary is like dieting: you have to work hard and there is no magic trick, secret or unique approach to do it. Everyone has to find what works the best for them, although being patient, setting realistic goals and rewarding when these are achieved is always a good strategy, and can be complemented with the following points.

1. Use memorization techniques

The mnemonic method is used a lot to memorize vocabulary, it consists of using mental shortcuts that help to remember words or complex concepts. For example, you can create associations between words: if you do not know how to spell the word accommodation, you just have to remember that you have two cots, which need two mattresses (mattresses). Or you can think of an acronym. The problem is, of course, that you also have to memorize the acronym, the song or the association, but with a little practice, you will end up having creative and useful connections. And: the more you think about associations and acronyms, the better you will be able to remember the words that come with them.

2. Create a learning environment

When you are studying abroad, you can listen and read the language everywhere and learn much faster by immersion. But you do not need to go abroad to gradually increase the number of words you know, you can create an inspiring studio environment wherever you are: buy magazines or books in that language which will be one of the best alternatives.

3. Put the words in context

A good idea to learn more words more quickly is to put them in a context: instead of writing lists of words at random, try putting them into phrases. That way you'll know how the words are used in real life writing. Also, if you come up with funny phrases, you'll memorize them better. Depending on your methods of learning, you can also draw pictures or find images that complement the sentences and put the words in their natural environment.

4. Learn from real-life situations

Speaking of context: movies, series or TV shows, books, podcasts or songs are not only a great source for knowing most common words, they can also help you memorize vocabulary because you can always associate it with a scenario, a person or an event (real). So try to read books or watch movies in the original language (with subtitles) and find out what these words actually mean and how they correlate to your writing. If you see or hear a word or phrase that you do not understand, write it down, look it up and start memorizing it.

5. Go to the next level

If you want to take learning to the next level, leave enough space to make mental maps with associated words, synonyms or antonyms. If you want to make the most of the learning process, try not to translate the words into your native language, explain them and describe them in the language you are trying to learn.

6. Find the tools that come in handy

Everybody learns differently, so if you do not know what suits the best for you, try all of the methods you can or a combination of them: you can use flashcards, applications, lists, games or posters to memorize the vocabulary, these things are really useful and helpful for improvising your vocabulary. The same goes for finding the right moment: some people prefer to schedule specific hours, others prefer to learn more spontaneously. No matter what method you choose, be sure to follow a work rhythm, after all, with practice you will reach perfection.

7. Make it interactive

Just as it is important that you find the right tools for you, so is the learning process as exhaustive as possible: do not limit yourself to reading the words on cards or lists; hear them pronounced, say them out loud and write them down. The more you do so that your encounter with words is an experience for all the senses, the better. (Why not eat ice cream while you learn what the different flavors are called?)

8. Focus on the words that are useful

If you want to expand your vocabulary because you want to work in a marketing company abroad, you probably do not need to read Shakespeare's works or focus on words related to the middle Ages. The more practical and useful the words for your professional career, your hobbies and real-life conversations, the easier they will be to learn and adapt, and you will be able to use them more frequently. (It could be like a game: you can reward yourself every time you use a certain word in a conversation).

9. Repeat them again and again

Remember not to repeat only the words you are learning at the moment, but also some of those that you think you have already learned. You do not have to go over those words you've already learned as often as the new vocabulary, but the more you use them, the better you remember them and come to mind when you need them.

Author Bio

Lara Hawkins is a truly dedicated and highly qualified education management experts working within the industry for a number of years. While starting her career from a custom assignment service UK based company she has considerably excelled as one of the best industry professional for education management.