In Part 1 you took the first step towards expanding your vocabulary by observing the world around you and collecting words that are relevant to you.
Step 2: Collect and group
- In your language, write the words that you would like to add to your vocabulary into your phone (unless you are driving, of course). Or, if you prefer, keep a small notebook with you.
- Group your vocabulary by giving it different headings according to where you found it, for example Clothes / Supermarket / Work / Bathroom / Car / Gym. This will help you to relate it to a situation in your daily life. The words will be relevant to you because they describe your own experiences. Thus they will be more likely to stick.
- Make sure you dedicate a new page to each topic or situation as you may want to add further words to the groups as time goes on.
Step 3: Translate, pronounce, repeat
- When you have a spare moment, find the translations for the words you have collected and write them down.
- At the same time make sure you listen to them on your online dictionary so you know how to pronounce them.
- Repeat the words. Say them out loud several times, five, ten, twenty times. Get your tongue around them.
Step 4: Expand and review (and meet old friends again!)
- Over time, try to add new words to your pages to broaden your vocabulary more and more.
- Keep going through them regularly, first every week, later once a month. This will not only help you not to forget your words; it will also bring back memories of the places you have been to and what you experienced there.
Seeing your words again after a period of time will feel like meeting and catching up with old friends.
Let me know what you do to broaden your vocabulary.
View an infographic on this topic.
Here is a post with 10 tips on how to review vocabulary.