“After learning vocabulary, I forget it after a few days”- most of us complain. First of all, we take it too seriously and tend to get bored after a certain period. As if learning vocabulary is next to impossible.
We are always under the impression there’s no fun in learning any new words. Is that true? Well, if you are going to learn vocabulary in a traditional method then, yes, it’s quite boring. But no worries! We’re here to give you solid guidelines so that you can learn vocabulary with some fun activities. Here are some engaging methods to enhance your vocabulary:
Word Games: You’re playing a game just for entertainment, wouldn’t it be cool if you could learn some new words at the same time? It is possible to enrich your vocabulary while playing games. For this purpose, you can play word games like Scrabble, Boggle, Crossword Puzzles, Taboo, Word Bingo, Blurt, and others. There are online games as well.
Flashcards: It may sound cliché but there is substantial proof that when students learn vocabulary through flashcards, they learn very easily and can remember those words for a long time. Create a flashcard with the word on one side and its definition on the other. Whenever you are free and stuck in traffic, simply take one of your flashcards and read, it’s not mandatory that you have to memorise everything within that time. Just simply read your flashcards and try to make sentences. Examine yourself whether you can do it or not.
Vocabulary apps: Let’s all admit that we spend our leisure time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. Even if we forget how time flies so fast, it feels like only a few minutes passed since we started to scroll through social media, but later realise it’s been two hours. This often leads to the feeling of guilt. Then what’s the solution? To utilise our time productively we can learn new words but in a more interesting way. Use vocabulary-building apps like Quizlet, Anki, Builder by Magoosh, and so on. These apps are associated with gamified elements to make them more engaging so install whichever seems fun to you.
Watch English funny videos: We all love to watch funny videos, don’t we? Just by watching funny videos with subtitles, we can learn plenty of new words. Suppose, you’re watching Mr Bean or any funny videos, will you just focus on words? No, you will fully enjoy the content while also trying to catch their words so that you can understand the inner jokes.
Use mnemonics: Mnemonics is a great tool to learn vocabulary. Mnemonics are memory devices, such as songs, acronyms, rhymes, and others that help learners recall larger pieces of information. For example, if you’re learning the word “pulchritudinous” (which means beautiful), imagine a beautiful, picturesque scene with vibrant colours and stunning landscapes. On the other hand, break down long or complex words into smaller, more manageable chunks or syllables. Just by attaching visual or auditory elements with words, you will get to learn so many new words.
It is difficult to apply all those techniques together to learn vocabulary. Rather pick your favorite tricks and apply them in real life. Try to stick to that technique for a minimum of one month to get the best output. By integrating fun into your learning process, you’ll be more motivated and likely to retain new words effectively.