Memorizing new vocabulary can be extremely difficult and time-consuming, especially for adults. That annoyed me a lot recently.
When you learn a word, you have to know many things.
The spelling, pronunciation, definitions, and usage of it are what you are going to consider.
When you learn a new word, you have to know its word formation, not only the word itself, and maybe phrase related to it.
As far as pronunciation, sound and stress are easy to mess up, which may differ when it is a verb or adjective.
And you have to consider the sentence.
As for definitions, it is the most difficult part of memorizing. One word may contain too many different meanings so you have to repeat each meaning of it again and again.
As for the usage of it, you have to read a lot of sentences and create your own one.
This is not easy for a grown man.
The following are 3 effective ways of doing this.
- Learn vocabulary through repeated exposure to the right content.
Repeated exposure, in context. The last two words "in context" are the most important.
Seek out content that is RICH, comprehensible, compelling.
I. Rich content is content that you partially do not understand.
II. Comprehensive content is content that you mostly do understand.
III. Compelling content is content that is interesting and relevant to you. - Use your listening skills to learn and to review.
- Use new vocabulary for meaningful communication.
