Despite our perfect skills, it will probably have happened to us sometimes to find ourselves in difficulty due to the inadequacy of the lexical resources at our disposal. Yet our communication skills bring out the best in us in the face of the trials that life offers us. It is the power of the word that determines our level of success. Mastering English words is the first step in mastering your communication skills. This guide is aimed at those who speak English as a second language, but also at native speakers who wish to enrich their lexical skills.
Steps
Step 1. Determine the actual level of your lexical skills
You can do this, using the tests available on some websites. By putting yourself to the test, you will know the strengths and weaknesses that characterize your level.
Step 2. Read the dictionary
The dictionary is an excellent source of learning and knowledge of English words.
Step 3. Buy some books to help you study
Go to a well-stocked library or bookstore and find someone skilled and able to listen to you and find the texts you need.
Step 4. Start at your level
If it is high, start at the level immediately above the one where you have no difficulty in recognizing and understanding every word you read.
Step 5. Prepare a study program
Follow it, even if it only takes you 30 minutes once a week. It is better to dedicate 10 minutes a day - exercise and daily activity will help you speed up learning.
Step 6. Sign up for websites that send one word a day to your inbox
One such site is Merriam-Webster, a dictionary publisher. You can find others as well.
Step 7. Say every word you read
It is very important and, moreover, make sure you do it correctly. There is nothing more embarrassing than trying to impress people by using new language resources, but incorrectly (for example, facetious is spelled "Fa-SEE-Shus," not "Fa-KET-EE-uss "). Speaking words aloud will help you form them naturally when speaking in front of others. It is especially important to practice for non-native speakers, since the pronunciation of vowels and consonants often differs from that of your own language.
Step 8. Write down the definition and a few sentences in which the word to be learned is used
In this way, you will be able to fix it well in mind along with the meaning. Read the sentences aloud, making sure to pronounce them carefully. Here is a bit of muscle memory at stake - forming words correctly the first few times will enable you to always form them in the same way. If from the beginning you pronounce a word incorrectly, afterwards it will be very difficult to correct yourself and use it in the exact way.
Step 9. Repeat the last words you learned every day, always adding a new one every day
When you are sure you don't forget the first one, delete it from the list and move on.
Step 10. The best way to master words is to learn their etymologies and use mnemonic techniques
Learn the root so that you can assimilate many other terms based on that root.
Advice
- Share new words with friends who may need them.
- Do not be discouraged and do not lose heart. English is a fun language and has a ton of bizarre words. Even native speakers get confused.
- Try using your humor or indulging in new acquired words. The more fun, the better! This will make it easier for you to remember new terms. For example, "adhere" (which means "stick, stay attached"): "The mouse was adhered to the cheese, because it was covered with Superglue".
- Study regularly.
