Raise Your English Level with More Vocabulary
2023-07-02
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1Let's look at two English learners.
2One knows about 500 words and understands how they are used in a sentence.
3The other knows about 1,000 words but has some problems with grammar.
4Which person can understand and communicate more in English?
5Clearly, it is the person who knows 1,000 words.
6Some studies have shown that for learners to fully understand a written work, they need to know 95 percent or more of the words in it.
7That means that if there are only five or more words you do not know in a 100-word text, you might not really understand it!
8In today's program, we will give you some advice for building up your vocabulary.
9"Vocabulary" can mean a single word, two words such as phrasal verbs, or many words together, such as an expression.
10There are two important things to keep in mind when trying to learn new vocabulary.
11First, connect new words to a story or a situation.
12This makes it easier to remember vocabulary than studying words from lists.
13Second, be active, not passive. Make yourself use the new words.
14Here are some ways to do that:
15When you find a new word or expression in a story, repeat the sentence and think of the situation connected to the new vocabulary.
16Write down then repeat in your head three to five more sentences that use the new vocabulary.
17Make your own short story and include several new words you want to remember.
18Each time you retell the story, you will review the new vocabulary in your mind.
19Make yourself explain the new word like you are a teacher.
20This is a great way to test how well you understand and can use the vocabulary.
21And if you have a study partner, you can explain the new vocabulary like you are a teacher!
22It is better to learn just a few words in a group of related items instead of all the words in the group.
23For example, if you try to learn the names of 12 different birds, you will certainly mix up which name goes with which bird.
24But if you simply learn the names of two or three birds, and then learn a few more at another time, you will remember more easily.
25Learn how a word can be used as different parts of speech, such as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
26Here are examples of the word hope used in four different ways:
27Noun: There is no hope of success.
28Verb: I hope we win the game.
29Adjective: The situation is hopeless.
30Adverb: Hopefully, we will win the game.
31Be sure to learn which suffixes, or endings, are used for different parts of speech.
32For example, -ous, -ic, -ful, and -less, make adjectives, while -ion and -ness make nouns.
33Prepositions are among the hardest things for English learners to remember.
34For example, we say, ��amused by�� and ��happy with.��
35But we cannot say ��happy by��.
36So, you should memorize the word and its preposition together as one unit instead of two separate words.
37Music often makes it easier to remember words or phrases. Sing along with a song.
38But make sure that you can remember the new vocabulary without the music, too.
39After all, you do not want to sing every time you try to remember something!
40Learn the tone of the vocabulary.
41Tone means the feeling the word carries with it.
42Tone can be positive or negative, and formal or informal.
43For example, the word ��idiotic�� means ��very stupid.��
44It has a strong negative feeling and can be used as an insult.
45And ��Howdy�� is a very informal use of ��Hello.��
46It is hard to learn about tone by yourself.
47The best way to learn the tone of vocabulary is to ask native speakers about it.
48There are many apps to help you learn vocabulary.
49They use a way of learning called spaced repetition.
50For example, an app might show you a new word seven times in one day when the word is new,
51but then show you the word only once a week after you know it better.
52English in a Minute, News Words, and Words and Their Stories are three programs that center on vocabulary on VOA Learning English.
53But you can learn vocabulary from any VOA Learning English program.
54Most of all, remember to be active instead of passive.
55Make yourself think and use new words. And you will see your vocabulary grow day by day!
56I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.
1Let's look at two English learners. One knows about 500 words and understands how they are used in a sentence. The other knows about 1,000 words but has some problems with grammar. 2Which person can understand and communicate more in English? 3Clearly, it is the person who knows 1,000 words. 4Some studies have shown that for learners to fully understand a written work, they need to know 95 percent or more of the words in it. That means that if there are only five or more words you do not know in a 100-word text, you might not really understand it! 5In today's program, we will give you some advice for building up your vocabulary. "Vocabulary" can mean a single word, two words such as phrasal verbs, or many words together, such as an expression. 6Two important things 7There are two important things to keep in mind when trying to learn new vocabulary. 8First, connect new words to a story or a situation. This makes it easier to remember vocabulary than studying words from lists. 9Second, be active, not passive. Make yourself use the new words. 10Here are some ways to do that: 11When you find a new word or expression in a story, repeat the sentence and think of the situation connected to the new vocabulary. Write down then repeat in your head three to five more sentences that use the new vocabulary. 12Make your own short story and include several new words you want to remember. Each time you retell the story, you will review the new vocabulary in your mind. 13Make yourself explain the new word like you are a teacher. This is a great way to test how well you understand and can use the vocabulary. And if you have a study partner, you can explain the new vocabulary like you are a teacher! 14More learning tips 15It is better to learn just a few words in a group of related items instead of all the words in the group. For example, if you try to learn the names of 12 different birds, you will certainly mix up which name goes with which bird. But if you simply learn the names of two or three birds, and then learn a few more at another time, you will remember more easily. 16Learn how a word can be used as different parts of speech, such as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Here are examples of the word hope used in four different ways: 17Noun: There is no hope of success. 18Verb: I hope we win the game. 19Adjective: The situation is hopeless. 20Adverb: Hopefully, we will win the game. 21Be sure to learn which suffixes, or endings, are used for different parts of speech. For example, -ous, -ic, -ful, and -less, make adjectives, while -ion and -ness make nouns. 22Prepositions are among the hardest things for English learners to remember. For example, we say, amused by and happy with. But we cannot say happy by. So, you should memorize the word and its preposition together as one unit instead of two separate words. 23Music often makes it easier to remember words or phrases. Sing along with a song. But make sure that you can remember the new vocabulary without the music, too. After all, you do not want to sing every time you try to remember something! 24Learn the tone of the vocabulary. Tone means the feeling the word carries with it. Tone can be positive or negative, and formal or informal. For example, the word idiotic means very stupid. It has a strong negative feeling and can be used as an insult. And Howdy is a very informal use of Hello. It is hard to learn about tone by yourself. The best way to learn the tone of vocabulary is to ask native speakers about it. 25There are many apps to help you learn vocabulary. They use a way of learning called spaced repetition. For example, an app might show you a new word seven times in one day when the word is new, but then show you the word only once a week after you know it better. 26English in a Minute, News Words, and Words and Their Stories are three programs that center on vocabulary on VOA Learning English. But you can learn vocabulary from any VOA Learning English program. 27Most of all, remember to be active instead of passive. Make yourself think and use new words. And you will see your vocabulary grow day by day! 28I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Dorothy Gundy. 29Andrew Smith wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 30_____________________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32active -adj. characterized by taking action and doing something instead of letting things happen 33passive -adj. characterized by lack of activity or letting things happen instead of taking action oneself 34unit -n. a single, complete thing 35positive -adj. having good and/or hopeful effects 36negative - adj. having harmful or undesirable effects 37formal - adj. serious and official 38informal - adj. relaxed and casual, as with friends; not formal 39_____________________________________________________________________ 40We want to hear from you. 41We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 42Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.