How to learn new words?

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How to learn new words?

In a previous study of mine I found that words are more important than grammar rules; if you have a big vocabulary, you can communicate better.

The question is: how to learn words so that we can remember them?

How to learn new words?

Which kind of things can we remember longer? Which kind of information and memories can our brain preserve for a long time? The answer is simple: the informations and datas which can be connected to emotions, can remain in our mind longer than the rest. We can remember better a lecture that was ”full of life" than a monotone and slow speech. We remember better movies which are full of emotions, because they affect us. Emotions are ’unforgetable’. It means, words which are connected to feelings become „unforgetable”. Essentially, the words are learned in real situations are more tied to emotion, such as ’memorized’ words, so that we remember them easier. It is clear that you learn more during a conversation: not just because we learn a lot from the native speakers, but also because we search for words which are most useful to us in a certain situation. After saying a word once, it’s going to be activated in our mind. So, we activate our passive vocabulary in this way.

What happens if we don’t face a situation in which we need to talk?

We can create sentences using new words, we can also write compositions about topics which we are really interested in: if you do something that you are interested in, you will do it with ethusiasm, so you will take feelings into. Reading mini-stories is a really good way of learning words. It is important to read or watch ineteresting stories up to your level. The stories keep your interest in a high level, so you don’t recognize that you are actually learning words. 

It is not necessary to choose ’full of emotions’ stories. Drama is not the key. Positive emotions are also emotions! 

Make the words remarkable

We are able to learn remarkable things longer and deeper!  If you meet a man who’s name is Steve Jones, will you remember him the next day, one week later, one month later? Not likely. Especially not, if Steve Jones is completely an avarage man without any special trait. When you meet someone who is called Ultra Viola, I am sure that you will remember her 3 mounths later too. 

Make the words remarkable: colors help you to do it! Learn them in their context and underline them with colorful pens. You may write them down on colored paper and post them on the wall. Pay attention to write them down with their context together.

In summary:

Emotions help you focus studying. Remarkable stuffs provoce feelings (anger, joy, surprise, etc.), so you can remember them easily. Read and watch simple mini-stories which keep your attention.