2. While without grammar little can be conveyed,
without vocabulary, nothing can be conveyed.
- David Wilkins, British linguist
â
â
3. There is a long held assumption that
grammar is more important than
vocabulary when learning a new language.
4. But linguistic research has demonstrated that
vocabulary is actually more fundamental
than grammar.
(Barcroft, 2004; Lewis, 2002; Wilkins, 1972)
5. Author Keith Folse knew the perfect Japanese
structure to ask: âExcuse me, where is the ____?â
6. Author Keith Folse knew the perfect Japanese
structure to ask: âExcuse me, where is the ____?â
What he didnât know was the word for flour.
Image Š David Pacey | Flickr
7. Author Keith Folse knew the perfect Japanese
structure to ask: âExcuse me, where is the ____?â
What he didnât know was the word for flour.
Image Š David Pacey | Flickr
After consulting a Japanese friend for the
translation, what he actually ended up
with was the word for flower.
Image Š Swaminathan | Flickr
9. So, how can you
build your vocabulary
in a foreign language?
What resources do you
need?
Whatâs the best way to
memorize it?
We have a few
suggestions!
Image Š Jennifer Steen Booher | Flickr
12. Image Š phip_s | Flickr
Put down the index cards.
Most software programs come
with hundreds of common
words and phrases, so you
can spend less time making
flashcards and spend more
time actually learning.
13. If youâre in search of a
program, sign up for a
free trial of Transparent
Language Online, which
presents thousands of
vocabulary words in a
suite of interactive
activities that will help
you learn them
quicker and retain
them longer.
14. If youâre in search of a
program, sign up for a
free trial of Transparent
Language Online, which
presents thousands of
vocabulary words in a
suite of interactive
activities that will help
you learn them
quicker and retain
them longer.
(Pitch over, we swear!)
16. Chances are, you already know dozens (if not
hundreds or more!) of words in your new
language, but you just donât realize it.
17. Chances are, you already know dozens (if not
hundreds or more!) of words in your new
language, but you just donât realize it.
HOW?
18. Chances are, you already know dozens (if not
hundreds or more!) of words in your new
language, but you just donât realize it.
HOW?
Theyâre called cognates.
19. Cognates are words with the same etymological origin, AKA
they sound the same (or very similar) in both languages.
Image Š Doblonaut | Flickr
20. Cognates are words with the same etymological origin, AKA
they sound the same (or very similar) in both languages.
Recognize any words on this
Spanish sign?
Image Š Doblonaut | Flickr
21. Take time to memorize the cognates in the
language youâre learning. A Google search for
â[language]-English cognatesâ should lead you
in the right direction.
22. Beware, though! You should also search for
and memorize false cognates, or words
that sound the same but actually have
very different meanings.
23. Beware, though! You should also search for
and memorize false cognates, or words
that sound the same but actually have
very different meanings.
In Spanish, for example, embarazada
does not mean embarrassed⌠it
means pregnant! Now that mix up
could be embarrassing!
Image Š clappstar | flickr
25. Cognates are extremely easy to memorize. But if
youâre beyond the beginner level, you probably
know most of them. Whatâs next?
26. Cognates are extremely easy to memorize. But if
youâre beyond the beginner level, you probably
know most of them. Whatâs next?
Synonyms and antonyms!
27. Learning synonyms may seem like
duplicated effort. If you know the word for
âfunny,â you should be all set, right?
Image Š Don LaVange | Flickr
28. Learning synonyms may seem like
duplicated effort. If you know the word for
âfunny,â you should be all set, right?
Image Š Don LaVange | Flickr
But what if someone tells
you: That wasâŚ
hilarious
amusing
entertaining
silly
hysterical
?
29. When you learn a new word, use a thesaurus to
discover its synonyms. This practice will increase
your understanding of the word and add variety
to your vocabulary.
Image Š mrd00dman | Flickr
31. Another trick to significantly expand your
vocabulary is to study common prefixes and
suffixes in the target language.
32. For example, if you know the Spanish prefix âconâ (with) and
the verb âvivirâ (to live), deciphering the new verb âconvivirâ (to
live together) becomes a lot easier.
Image Š Brent and Amanda I | Flickr
33. Each prefix and suffix you learn opens the
door to hundreds of new words, yielding a
huge return on your investment in your
vocabulary.
35. The more you read, the more vocabulary youâll
be exposed to. Read actively, not passively, to
absorb as many new words as possible.
Image Š Shutterhacks | Flickr
36. The more you read, the more vocabulary youâll
be exposed to. Read actively, not passively, to
absorb as many new words as possible.
Image Š Shutterhacks | Flickr
Donât rush.
37. The more you read, the more vocabulary youâll
be exposed to. Read actively, not passively, to
absorb as many new words as possible.
Image Š Shutterhacks | Flickr
Donât rush.
Highlight unfamiliar words and
look them up in a dictionary.
38. The more you read, the more vocabulary youâll
be exposed to. Read actively, not passively, to
absorb as many new words as possible.
Image Š Shutterhacks | Flickr
Donât rush.
Highlight unfamiliar words and
look them up in a dictionary.
Revisit the word in the context
of the sentence.
39. Read a variety of materials, from short stories and
novels to newspapers and blogs, to acquire vocabulary
at varying levels of difficulty and a wide range of topics.
Image Š Ol.v!er[H2vPk] | Flickr
40. Separate your leisurely reading from your
active, vocabulary-building reading.
Image Š Chad Kainz | Flickr
41. Separate your leisurely reading from your
active, vocabulary-building reading.
When reading to boost your vocab,
limit yourself. Stick to just a few pages of
a novel, one news story, one magazine
article, etc. and really take your time.
Image Š Chad Kainz | Flickr
43. Keeping a journal in your target language is the
perfect way to find words you didnât even know
that you didnât know. (What a mouthful!)
Image Š Walt Stoneburner | Flickr
44. Take a few minutes to
write about your day.
Want to mention
something you did or
experienced, but donât
know how? Thatâs
probably a word youâll
want to know in the
future, so look it up!
Image Š Refracted Moments | Flickr
45. Image Š photosteve101 | Flickr
Highlight the new words in each entry. At the end of
the week, flip through your old entries and review
these new words to keep them fresh in your memory.
47. If you struggle less with finding new vocabulary
and more with just remembering it, try your
hand at a little etymology!
Image Š Trish Hartmann | Flickr
48. It may help to associate a new vocabulary word
with its origins.
Image Š William Warby | Flickr
For example, the English word
âhippopotamusâ is derived from
the Greek words âipposâ (horse)
and âpotamasâ (river).
49. It may help to associate a new vocabulary word
with its origins.
Image Š William Warby | Flickr
For example, the English word
âhippopotamusâ is derived from
the Greek words âipposâ (horse)
and âpotamasâ (river).
Associating âhippopotamusâ
with âriver horseâ gives you a
strong visual, and may help
you recall the word more
easily.
50. Looking up the origins or literal meanings
of words and expressions will paint a
mental picture that you can look back
on, rather than just relying on rote
memorization.
52. Looking for slang, idioms, informal
expressions, abbreviations, and all of that
juicy stuff youâll never find in a
dictionary?
53. Looking for slang, idioms, informal
expressions, abbreviations, and all of that
juicy stuff youâll never find in a
dictionary?
Check Twitter!
54. Follow politicians, athletes, musicians, actors, or
everyday native speakers of your target language
and see what theyâre saying.
Look up unfamiliar words, or expressions that donât
quite make sense.
Image Š Adam Fagen | Flickr
55. For example, the
Portuguese
expression âEscrevo
o que eu tĂ´ te
falando.â literally
means âWrite down
what Iâm telling
you.â
Thatâs a little
strange, right? If you
look it up, youâll find
that itâs actually
used to say âMark
my words.â
56. Watching and interacting with
native speakers on an informal
platform like Twitter will give your
vocabulary a much-needed boost
in the colloquial department.
61. Similar to how exploring word origins helps you
build vocabulary by providing strong mental
images, listening to music gives you something
memorable to associate with a new word.
62. Have you ever noticed your brainâs seemingly
endless capacity for song lyrics? Think of how many
songs you have memorized in there!
Image Š Roadsidepictures | Flickr
63. Search YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, last.fm, etc.
for music you enjoy in your target language
and look up the lyrics.
Image Š eldeeem | Flickr
64. Pick one song at a time, and look up all of
the unfamiliar vocabulary in the lyrics. With
enough listens, those new words and phrases
will be engrained in your mind, just like
your favorite songs in your native language.
65. Vocabulary building should be a goal
for language learners of all levels.
The greater your vocabulary in a language,
the better you will understand others and
express yourself.
Use these tips to get started, and never
stop acquiring new vocabulary!
66. Ready to build your vocabulary?
Sign up for a free trial of Transparent Language Online and learn
thousands of new vocabulary words and phrases in 100+ languages!
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