LEARNING TIPS: VOCABULARY-2

Good morning.

Today we continue with our tips for systematising your vocabulary learning. Once you have your Word Bank created, you will need other systems to use it properly. Here are some suggestions. (Remember that you can download a PDF document that explains how to create a Word Bank at the following link: http://miniurl.com/87414.)

GET A GOOD DICTIONARY
It's amazing how many English students don't have a decent dictionary. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to look up a word in your super mini-English travel dictionary and not finding it. If you're serious about learning, you need the right tools. So, find a dictionary that's appropriate for your level of English, either monolingual or bilingual (or both).

KEEP A RECORD OF THE WORDS YOU SEARCH FOR
Once you have your dictionary, use it to help you decide which new words to include in your Word Bank. The first time you look up a new word in the dictionary, put a cross (X) or an asterisk (*) in pencil next to the word. The next time you look up that same word, put a second cross (XX) or asterisk (**). If you look up that word a third time, then you know that it is a word you should learn, and that you have had trouble remembering it. Put it in your Word Bank and make a special effort to learn it!

Example: 
Rerun --> a film or programme that is being shown again.  (X)
Rerun --> a film or programme that is being shown again.  (XX)
Rerun --> a film or programme that is being shown again.  (XXX)

I've looked up the noun rerun three times, so I'll put it in my Word Bank! 

Have you got any other ideas, post them on our Facebook wall: http://tinyurl.com/6xw6686.

I hope you have a great day!