Learn Vocabulary Effectively
- TC
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
Learning new words in a foreign language can feel overwhelming, but the right techniques make it easier and more enjoyable. Here are some research-backed methods to boost your vocabulary skills:
1. Use Flashcards with Spaced Repetition 📚
Spaced repetition (SRS) helps you remember words by reviewing them at strategic intervals. Apps like Anki or Quizlet show you words just before you forget them, making memorization more effective.
Tip: Add images or example sentences to your flashcards for better retention!
Try some Quizlet sets here:
2. Read a Lot (Extensive Reading) 📖
The more you read, the more words you’ll naturally pick up. Studies show that learners who read regularly improve their vocabulary much faster.
Tip: Read books or articles at your level. Focus on understanding the context instead of translating every word.
3. Speak & Write to Activate New Words 🗣️ ✍️
Recognizing a word is one thing—using it is another. Actively practicing through speaking and writing helps words stick.
Tip: Try using a newly learned word in a conversation or journal entry the same day you learn it!
Look around, aren’t there any language exchange events you can try?
4. Learn Words in Context 🔗
Words are easier to remember when you see them used in real sentences instead of isolated lists.
Tip: Instead of memorizing “to improve = améliorer” (French), learn it in a sentence: Je veux améliorer mon français. (I want to improve my French.)
(Czech) – zlepšit: Chci zlepšit svou češtinu.
5. Mix Different Learning Methods 🎧 📚 💬
Combining different approaches—reading, listening, speaking, and using apps—makes learning more effective and fun.
Tip: Watch videos, read blogs, listen to podcasts, and join conversation groups in your target language.
6. Immerse Yourself in the Language 🌍
Surrounding yourself with the language helps you absorb new words naturally.
Tip: Change your phone’s language, label objects in your home, and follow social media accounts in your target language.
7. Review Regularly 🔄
New words fade quickly if you don’t review them. Schedule short, frequent reviews to keep them fresh.
TIPS AND TRICKS FROM POLYGLOTS
Polyglots often experiment with different learning strategies to optimize their vocabulary acquisition. Here are some additional techniques they swear by:
1. The Goldlist Method
📖 A relaxed, handwriting-based technique where learners write vocabulary in a notebook, then review and distil the list over time without forced memorization. Words naturally enter long-term memory through exposure.
How to do it:
Write down 20 new words in your notebook.
Wait 14+ days before reviewing (no cramming!).
Rewrite the words you remember in a new list, leaving out forgotten ones.
Repeat the process until you retain most words effortlessly.
2. The Laddering Technique
🎭 Instead of translating words into your native language, polyglots use one foreign language to learn another. This helps avoid reliance on your mother tongue and accelerates fluency.
Example:If you're fluent in English and learning Spanish, use Spanish to learn French.
3. Shadowing
🎤 A method created by polyglot Alexander Arguelles where learners listen to native speech and repeat it out loud as quickly as possible, mimicking pronunciation and rhythm.
How to do it:
Choose an audio source (podcast, audiobook, video).
Play the audio while walking or moving (helps concentration!).
Repeat what you hear as closely as possible.
PODCASTS
🇨🇿https://cs.terceflmc.com/post/jaknaposlech
4. Memory Palaces & Mnemonics
🏰 Many polyglots create mental "memory palaces" or use mnemonics to associate new words with vivid images or stories.
Example:
"Butterfly" in Spanish is mariposa. Imagine a Marie Antoinette posing like a butterfly.
The French word poubelle (trash can) sounds like "pooh-bell"—imagine Winnie the Pooh ringing a bell over a trash can.
5. The "Chunking" Method
🧩 Instead of learning words in isolation, polyglots memorize phrases (collocations) to understand how words naturally fit together.
Example:Instead of memorizing "apple" → manzana, learn a phrase:🍏 "I like eating apples." → Me gusta comer manzanas.--> Rád/a jím jablka.
6. Talking to Yourself
🗣️ Many polyglots practice by narrating their daily activities or having "imaginary conversations" in their target language.
How to do it:
Describe what you’re doing: "Now I am making coffee."
Answer questions you think a native speaker might ask you.
Roleplay different scenarios like ordering food or introducing yourself.
7. Input Flooding
🌊 This means exposing yourself to an overwhelming amount of input in your target language—watching TV shows, listening to music, reading books, and immersing yourself in real-world usage.
Example:If learning Italian, watch only Italian Netflix shows, listen to Italian music, and follow Italian social media pages.
8. Backward Translation
📝 Translate a text from your target language into your native language—then wait a day and translate it back without looking at the original. This forces deeper recall and highlights gaps in knowledge.
9. Journaling Technique 📓
Writing daily in your target language helps reinforce new vocabulary and improve your writing skills. By reflecting on your day or writing about specific topics, you actively engage with the language.
How to do it:
Set aside a few minutes each day to write about your experiences, thoughts, or plans in your target language.
Try using new words you've learned in your entries.
Keep your journaling simple at first and gradually increase the complexity as you improve.
Example:
Today, I went to the park and met some friends. We talked about the weather and plans for the weekend. I felt happy because it was sunny.
In French: Aujourd'hui, je suis allé(e) au parc et j'ai rencontré des amis. Nous avons parlé du temps et des projets pour le week-end. Je me suis senti(e) heureux(se) parce qu'il faisait soleil.
Czech:
Dnes jsem šel(a) do parku a potkal(a) přátele. Mluvili jsme o počasí a plánech na víkend. Cítil(a) jsem se šťastně, protože bylo slunečno.
Let us all know in the comments below which method is your favourite. Do you use any not mentioned in the list?
Learn your language effectively and have fun!
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