How To Improve Your Vocabulary in English
1. Use dictionary and thesaurus
To help you learn the meaning of words, you can use a dictionary, and to help you find similar words to ones you might already know, you can use a thesaurus. When you're reading digital texts, you may use an online dictionary and thesaurus. Having a print dictionary and thesaurus can be helpful when you're at home or at the office, since they may provide more comprehensive entries for each word.
2. Creat a list of words to learn
To help you remember and review vocabulary, you can make a list of new vocabulary words you've learned. You might create this list on your phone or in a small notebook so that you can review it frequently or add to it whenever you learn a new word. If you choose to use your phone, you may search for flashcard apps or language-learning apps to supplement other learning methods. If you choose to use a small notebook, you can easily return to the list to add details or definitions later.
3. Read news sources
Regional, national or global news publications and magazines can be the best reading sources to learn new vocabulary. These sources can help you understand new words more quickly by giving you context for each word so that you can learn how to use it in a sentence or paragraph. Reading the news can also be a good way to read and learn words every day.
4. Review specialized sources
To help you learn words that are common in your field, geographic area and social groups, you can add specialized sources into your vocabulary practice. You might ask coworkers or friends what they're reading to find the most applicable sources for your situation. For instance, if you're in a more technical industry, you might check trade publications or books recommended for continuing education courses. Adding these words to a personal list can help you create your own glossary to reference at work.
5. Listen to English sources
Many online dictionaries have sound recordings to help you with individual words. Podcasts can help you hear words with appropriate context, and many podcast apps have speed settings so that you can slow down the speech to hear each word more clearly.
You might also learn new vocabulary by watching movies or tutorials and adding closed captions, which show you the spelling of each word. Additionally, you may search for professional conference recordings or excerpts from different geographic areas to hear how people with different accents pronounce terms in your field.
6. Practice by yourself
To help you integrate new words into your conversations, you can use new vocabulary regularly. You might practice writing sentences with your new vocabulary or incorporating these terms into the communication you already write. You can also create a sentence in your head each time you see a new word. Word game apps can make learning new words exciting and help you feel accomplished as you pass different levels.
7. Speak with others
You should practice with others to help you learn how to pronounce English words and use specific words properly. You may research conversation groups in your area or meet a friend or coworker for conversation. If you're learning words in a new discipline, you may try asking questions on an online forum or writing short explanations or writing exercises to understand how to use them in context. Group word games and puzzles can also be a fun way to review and think about the spelling and roots of words.