Basic Tips for Improving Your Vocabulary

Building up is the key to mastering the art of language. In order to feel completely in control of your diction, you need to have a wide range of words to choose from (obviously). Each time you encounter a new word, your mind needs time to digest each word and let it sink in, so it becomes truly yours. Like learning a musical instrument or playing a sport, improving your vocabulary requires consistent effort.

1.      Buy an electronic dictionary.

Or if you have a cell phone that can access the dictionaries online, that is fine too. When we are immersed in a book, or TV show, how many of us are going to flip through a dictionary if we come across a word we don’t know? Not many. Because this device is fast and convenient to carry around, it will make the process much easier. Plus, if you learn the definition while you still have the context in mind, you will remember it better.

For those who enjoy reading blogs or online articles, I recommend a software called Babylon  (It also does a great job of translating).Each time you see a new word anywhere on your computer screen, just use Ctrl+Right Click and this comprehensive dictionary software immediately pops up. It also comes with thesauruses and encyclopedias.

Of course, if you don’t want to pay for the software, you can use free websites like www.dictionary.com and www.webster.com. There are tools and Firefox plug-ins to make the process of looking up a word on those websites a little easier.

2.      Read!!!

Not only will this boost your vocabulary, it also helps with your writing and comprehension. When you read, immediately look up the words you don’t know. But if that is too much of a hassle, just keep a wordlist. Write down the words on paper and look them up later. Be an active reader, which means you consciously try to maintain the level of concentration and become actively involved in the text. Read periodicals like TIME, The New Yorker, The Economist, and Newsweek. For books, try to focus on the classics, because those generally contain harder vocabulary.

3.      Listen?

If your eyes ever get sore, or if you just feel like lying down to relax, turn on your radio! Find out the frequency of your local NPR station. It’s filled with intelligent talk, and more importantly, advanced vocabulary! To have more control over what you listen to, you can subscribe to your favorite programs via iTunes. Here is a few of them I recommend: New Yorker: Fiction, New Yorker: Commentary, NPR: Books, PRI: To the Best of Our Knowledge and A Way With Words.

There are also vocabulary podcasts like Just Vocabulary and Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day (you can also have it emailed to you through here).

Beside Podcasts, audio books are also helpful. Buy them through iTunes, Audible.com, or just check them out from your local library.

4.      Test Yourself and Practice!!!

For once a week, take out the word list and look up the definitions. Then punch them in at http://quizlet.com. Familiarize yourself with flashcards, quizzes, and games. Then, always use them whenever you have a chance. This really makes sure that the words are set in stone in your mind and you will never forget them!

Learning is a life long process. Keep these in mind and even you will be surprised at your progress.