English can be a frustrating language to learn (there, their, they’re I’m looking at you!) You learn all the tenses at the A1 level and then are still learning new rules for the same tenses at C1. Even these are full of irregular verbs that seem to have no rhyme or reason. But while grammar and pronunciation for the most part follow sets of rules, which can be applied to different scenarios, vocabulary often lacks these types of guides. This makes vocabulary particularly difficult for learners to retain. Today we will look at a number of ways to help you build, practice and review vocabulary so that you can expand your bank of active vocabulary and put it to use effectively. Read our tips below for “how to improve your English vocabulary”.

First things first, as with most things in life, organisation is key. If you like the idea of taking down notes with pen and paper, a dedicated physical notebook is a good option. If interacting with tech is more your style, apps like Microsoft OneNote can be a great way to organise your notes and access them anywhere.
New vocabulary can be organised in alphabetical order, by subject, date learned, function, etc. The most important thing is to have a system to organise your entries so that they are searchable for you and as a result, usable. This type of organisation is particularly effective for learners who like to review learnt material at the end of each lesson, week, etc. Manually transferring new vocabulary from your class notes to your vocabulary notebook adds another engagement with the vocabulary to help with overall retention.

The most important aspect of learning new vocabulary is context. Memorizing words in isolation can be ineffective and very inaccurate. Always make sure to learn new vocabulary in context by reading/recording sentences, paragraphs, or even entire articles where the word is used. This helps you understand how the word functions within a sentence and its nuances. When recording newly learnt vocabulary, make sure to add context whenever possible. Learn how to use a dictionary. While physical dictionaries can be of great use, online dictionary apps and sites like collinsdictionary.com and dictionary.com include definitions, pronunciation (with audio) and contextualised examples with some sites including different uses by level. Read as much as you can. Newspapers, websites, blogs, brochures, books, magazines, etc. are all great resources for building vocabulary. At A1 to low B1 levels, graded readers will give you lots of appropriate vocabulary for your level of comprehension. For independent users from B1+ and beyond, realia is a great way to build your vocabulary bank. Remember, the more times you encounter a word, the more easily you will remember it. Watching movies, series, TED Talks, etc. with the subtitles (in English) can be another great way to pick up new vocabulary in context.

You need to use a new word about ten times before you remember it, so practice is key. Writing is a powerful way to reinforce new vocabulary. Keep a journal or write essays and short stories incorporating the new words you’ve learned. This not only helps with retention but also improves your writing skills. Do word puzzles and games like crosswords, anagrams and wordsearches. Again, these can be done with good old-fashioned pen and paper or can be done on the go with apps like wordle and other crossword apps. Games like Pictionary and charades can be great ways to practice vocabulary with friends. Speaking is an essential part of language learning and a great way to use vocabulary in real world situations. Use new words in your daily conversations and in your English lessons. The more you use a word, the more likely you are to remember it. Practice with friends, language exchange partners, or even by recording yourself for your own podcasts and other online uses.

Regular review is key to moving vocabulary from short-term to long-term memory. Look at new words again after 24 hours, after one week and after one month. These spaced repetition techniques will help you to retain, recall and revisit vocabulary at increasing intervals. Flashcards are another tried and tested tool for reviewing vocabulary. These can be low tech, using simple paper and pencil to create a physical bank of vocabulary or you can use apps like Quizlet to make interactive flashcards, create games to test your memory and to review your vocabulary on the go.

Every journey starts with a single step and learning a new language can be a long and challenging journey. Breaking this journey into digestible steps will help you to enjoy the process and retain the knowledge. Remember to get organised and build your active bank of words, phrases, uses and context. Make sure to practice using new lexis as much as possible and take time to review your knowledge. If you do all of these, you’ll be able to keep your frustration levels at a minimum when you have to decide when to use there, their or they’re, to, too or two or for, four or fore correctly. Good luck!