Learn Vocabulary - English Study Guide

A recent questions session on Hubpages asked "How do I learn Vocabulary". Well as I am in the process of learning Italian I thought why not pass on some tips, tricks and processes I use.

Learning any language is complicated enough but the best advise I can give is vocabulary is key. If you can't remember a particular tense, structure or grammar do not worry. If you have sufficient words in your language arsenal you will over come any problems. The more words you know the easier it is to try another. Even if your first attempt results in a blank stare.

Today in the Chemist I was trying to get some tablets for cystitis, not a pleasant condition or topic of conversation granted but illustrates my point perfectly. My requests for "something for a water infection" bought about comments relating to purifying wells. At this point I realised I needed some new words. Luckily I was able to discuss irritation, bathrooms and urine ,....hooragh result achieve. Plus the 10 other women in the Chemist had a story about the strange foreigner in the store again.

The key to increasing your vocabulary, is to regularly build up lists of related words. This makes it easier to remember as they all interlink and have a common purpose.

List 10 words each day and repeat them whilst shopping, on the bus, at the traffic lights or my favourite, to the dog, whilst walking. Each morning I try and get 10 new words, like things in the countryside, (hill, river, meadow) ten animals, parts of the body. It is easier if there is some connection with your days activities. So if you are shopping perhaps ten vegetables or ten types of stores.

While you look up the days list, read over yesterdays list as a reminder, a quick recap. It is important to write them down so as you can visualise the word in your head, I find this helps fix it in my mind. Say it out loud as well makes sure you remember it. At the end of each week have a quick review of all the words and test yourself. All this doesn't take too long, normally about 10 minutes, over breakfast.

If you do this every week day, then every month you will have 200 new words. Before too long you and the dog will be fluent. The second thing about learning a language is fear of making mistakes. Don't worry even native speakers massacre their own language at times.