How To Improve Your Vocabulary, Kenneth Beare

How To Improve Your Vocabulary
From Kenneth Beare,

There are many ways to improve your vocabulary. When working to improve your vocabulary it's important to know your goals in order to best choose the way in which you want to learn. Reading can be a great way to improve your vocabulary. However, it won't be much help on a vocabulary test next week. Here are a number of methods to help you improve, and expand, your English vocabulary.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: from 30 minutes to 3 or more hours
Here's How:

1. Vocabulary Trees

Vocabulary trees help provide context. Once you've mapped out a few vocabulary trees, you'll discover yourself thinking in vocabulary groups. When you see a cup your mind will quickly relate such words as knife, fork, late, dishes, etc. This overview to vocabulary trees provides will help you get started. Here is an example of a vocabulary tree.

2. Create Vocabulary Themes

Create a list of vocabulary themes, include the vocabulary, a definition and an example sentence for each new item. Here is an example of a household appliance vocabulary theme sheet.

3. Use Technology to Help You

Watching DVDs is a great way to help you understand native speakers of English. Using all the fancy options watching individual scenes can help make DVD use into a vocabulary learning exercise.
4. Specific Vocabulary Lists

Rather than studying a long list of unrelated vocabulary, use specific vocabulary lists to help you prepare for the type of vocabulary you need for work, school or hobbies. These business vocabulary word lists are great for industry specific vocabulary items.
5. Word Formation Charts

Word formation is one of the keys to success for advanced level ESL learners. Advanced level English exams such as the TOEFL, First Certificate CAE and Proficiency use word formation as one of the key testing elements. These word formation charts provide the concept noun, personal noun, adjective and verb forms of key vocabulary listed in alphabetical order.

6. Visual Dictionaries

A picture is worth a thousand words. It's also very helpful for learning precise vocabulary. There are a number of excellent English learner visual dictionaries for sale. Here is an online version of a visual dictionary dedicated to jobs.

7. Learn Collocations

Collocations refer to words that often or always go together. A good example of a collocation is to do your homework. These lists of important verb + noun collocations will help your learn some of the most important.

8. Use a Corpus

Corpora are huge collections of documents that can track the number of times a word is used. By using a corpora, you can find which words are often used together with target vocabulary words. Combining corpora use with vocabulary trees is a great way to learn key vocabulary for specific vocabulary target areas. You can get started by visiting the British National Corpus.

Tips:

1. Use vocabulary learning methods to focus quickly on the vocabulary YOU need to study.
2. Don't make random lists of new words. Try to group words in themes. This will help you memorize new words more quickly.
3. If you have the time, and even if you think you don't have the time, try to add context. Writing a few example sentences using new vocabulary will help you remember the words in context.
4. Keep a vocabulary notepad at hand whenever you are reading in English.

Calendar

Syllabus

English IEP 5 Syllabus Lincoln University
Vocabulary
Dr. Sylvia Schoemaker

Phone: 510.628.8036
Semester: Spring 2007
Course Days: T Time: 1:00 – 5:30; Location: Room 302
Course sites: http://vocab072.blogspot.com/
Office: Room 305
Office Hours: T-T, 9:9:30, 12:15-1, and by arrangement
E-mail: docsyl072@gmail.com


Objectives
You will develop your vocabulary skills for functional communicative purposes, in context-centered study and expansions.

University learner goals 1 -6, and specifically in English: To develop the ability to communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing, and to read with understanding (1.1) and institutional goals , especially 1,(1.1-1.4), 2.4


Description:
IEP 5 covers the aspects of vocabulary development in functional communicative contexts. The core of the course will emphasize meaningful practice aimed at vocabulary expansion through contexts, word families, word structures and combining parts.

Course Materials

Required Texts
McCArthy, Michael and Felicity O’Dell. Basic Vocabulary in Use. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Dictionary, thesaurus

Format
A cooperative learning model is employed. Small group and individual discovery exercises and presentations will augment lectures, discussion and applications.


Student Responsibilities:
Students are expected to attend class, to complete assignments, to participate in the course in a productive manner, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.

Evaluation/Grading:
Students will be evaluated on the basis of in-class work, homework, and overall proficiency development.

Policies:
Attendance is mandatory. Missed classes will constitute 0 points for the day’s class participation points. Excused absences are limited to serious medical or other problems, and are to be explained to the instructor either before or immediately after the absence.

Assignments: see Assignment Schedule

Assignment Schedule

Weeks	Date	Units	Items
1	16-Jan-2007	Learner training	1-2
2	23-Jan-2007	Everyday verbs	3-14
3	30-Jan-2007	"	"
4	6-Feb-2007	Words and grammar	15 -27
5	13-Feb-2007	"	"
6	20-Feb-2007	People	28 -35
7	27-Feb-2007	"	"
8	6-Mar-2007	The world	36 -42
9	13-Mar-2007	"	"
--	20-Mar-2007	Spring Recess	--
10	27-Mar-2007	At home	43 -46
11	3-Apr-2007	"	"
12	10-Apr-2007	School and workplace	47 -49
13	17-Apr-2007	"	"
14	24-Apr-2007	Leisure	50 -56
15	1-May-2007	Social issues	"; 57 -60
16	8-May-2007	Post Testing