Aprender Inglês
Sometimes we go through one of those moments when the word we are looking for is not there in our repertoire. Even in our native language it happens, and it seems to happen to pretty much everyone, or at least often enough to make me think that. I've seen that momentin a lot of different situations, sometimes unimportant, sometimes funny and sometimes quite embarrassing.
Some of those words are known to us but they just decide to escape our heads when we need them, some we have no idea. It's in this second situation that I would like to focus, because it is an important issue to students and sometimes to teachers as well. No one knows all the words of any language, there is always something to learn.
As a long time student of the English language and as a teacher, vocabulary is a constant interest and something on which I spend some time and dedication. But there is one thing that I hear a lot and that I don't think that actually describes what happens, people say theyhave poor vocabulary. Well, that is not, in my opinion, a good way to describe it.
For start, if you are a student improving you vocabulary is a constant thing and part of the learning process, so it is natural that the number of words you know is not that big. To that there's one advice that I think fits here: research.
Try to find new words. When in class ask, when studying and facing something new, go after it's meaning.
Lots of times we can hear some new expression on TV or in a movie, try to write it down, even if you don't know the correct spelling, and then try to find it. We have so many resources today, having a good dictionary is very important, but when it's not near you, or when you still don't have one, the internet can help too. Be aware that sometimes it's not enough to find a word on-line, you should confirm its meaning later or get further research. But even so, the more you have the habit of learning new words, the faster your vocabulary will grow.
Second, a vocabulary cannot be poor. Very often we have to use a powerful tool: description. We describe what we are trying to say, what we mean or how we feel. Well, it's one of the poets' best weapon, let's use it when we need. You have your tools, the words you alreadyknow, use them, don't be ashamed to put you vocabulary to a rich use. That's one way to say that your vocabulary is not poor, you are learning, so are we all, what should be rich is the use you make of what you have.
That goes to a lot of things in life, naturally, so it is good advice to the use of language as well.
You will improve your language skills if you keep dedicating time and effort to it. Your vocabulary will grow in size and quality - which is even more important than quantity. But in the way, put what you have to a good use, that's why you are studying and that is communication.
Professor Gustavo.
- Grasping
Learning is a very interesting process and also quite complex. Interesting due to all benefits we acquire during the process, besides the knowledge per si; complex due to the difficulties we create within. Although you need to go further in grammar and...
- Improving Your Vocabulay In English
There are many ways to improve your vocabulary. When working to improve your vocabulary it's important to know your goals in order to best choose the way in which you want to learn. Reading can be a great way to improve your vocabulary. However, it...
- Why We Don't Like English Classes
© Tomasz P. Szynalski, English classes are the most popular way in which people study English. They are so amazingly popular that most people do not even think about how to learn English. The process is automatic: I want to learn English, so I sign...
- Myth #2: "the Best Way To Learn A Foreign Language Is To Speak It"
© Tomasz P. Szynalski, Antimoon.com This is probably the most frequently repeated piece of advice for language learners. You will hear it from teachers, webmasters of ESL sites, and people in the Antimoon Forum (e.g. see Jeff Hook's posts in this...
- Improve Your English Through Reading
by Josef Essberger Right now you are reading English. That means that you are using your brain in a very active way. Reading is a very active process. It is true that the writer does a lot of work, but the reader also has to work hard. When you read...
Aprender Inglês
Poor Vocabulary?
(Do Time de Professores da A Frank Experience)
loading...
- Grasping
Learning is a very interesting process and also quite complex. Interesting due to all benefits we acquire during the process, besides the knowledge per si; complex due to the difficulties we create within. Although you need to go further in grammar and...
- Improving Your Vocabulay In English
There are many ways to improve your vocabulary. When working to improve your vocabulary it's important to know your goals in order to best choose the way in which you want to learn. Reading can be a great way to improve your vocabulary. However, it...
- Why We Don't Like English Classes
© Tomasz P. Szynalski, English classes are the most popular way in which people study English. They are so amazingly popular that most people do not even think about how to learn English. The process is automatic: I want to learn English, so I sign...
- Myth #2: "the Best Way To Learn A Foreign Language Is To Speak It"
© Tomasz P. Szynalski, Antimoon.com This is probably the most frequently repeated piece of advice for language learners. You will hear it from teachers, webmasters of ESL sites, and people in the Antimoon Forum (e.g. see Jeff Hook's posts in this...
- Improve Your English Through Reading
by Josef Essberger Right now you are reading English. That means that you are using your brain in a very active way. Reading is a very active process. It is true that the writer does a lot of work, but the reader also has to work hard. When you read...