Learn New Words: 7 Easy Ways to Memorize Vocabulary

Learn New Words: 7 Easy Ways to Memorize Vocabulary

Have you ever found yourself struggling to hold a conversation? Maybe you knew exactly what you wanted to say in your native language, but couldn’t put it into words in English! The feeling of having to translate and rush to find the right word or phrase can be incredibly frustrating. Rest assured though, this isn’t your fault. Traditional language learning methods like memorizing lists of related words and grammar rules don’t work that well and are incredibly dull – no wonder you’re finding it hard! I’m here now to show you how best to learn, store, and finally use English vocab so that you can gain mastery of the language and confidently express yourself.

1.) Improve your recall by developing speaking confidence

Learn New Words: 7 Easy Ways to Memorize Vocabulary

Have you ever found yourself struggling to hold a conversation? Maybe you knew exactly what you wanted to say in your native language, but couldn’t put it into words in English! The feeling of having to translate and rush to find the right word or phrase can be incredibly frustrating. Rest assured though, this isn’t your fault. Traditional language learning methods like memorizing lists of related words and grammar rules don’t work that well and are incredibly dull – no wonder you’re finding it hard! I’m here now to show you how best to learn, store, and finally use English vocab so that you can gain mastery of the language and confidently express yourself.

Improve your recall by developing speaking confidence

Many English students can feel apprehensive when speaking. They’re anxious about making mistakes and uncertain of how they sound. As a result, they have difficulty recalling the words they need when talking to somebody, but this issue is noticeably absent when speaking on their own. Conquer your fears by gaining a more confident level of understanding before pushing yourself to speak. Put an end to any worries you have about grammar or pronunciation, and feel more relaxed if you make a mistake. At the same time, understand that even native speakers cannot always find the correct word immediately, but this isn’t usually something that consumes them since they tend to think of an alternative way of expressing themselves. Bit by bit, you’ll get more comfortable and your vocabulary will expand too.

2.) Prioritize listening

The next time you’re in a conversation, I want you to shift your focus.

Instead of focusing on what you’re going to say next — focus on understanding what the other person is saying.

You get value from conversations when you listen to native English, not just what you say. Listening has the following benefits:

• Building your vocabulary by learning “real” English words.
• By making the other person feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to speak with you again!
• You feel more confident because you’re adding value to the conversation, which helps you remember your words.
• It is a great way to practice your English and build fluency by listening to different native speakers talk about similar topics.

By removing the pressure to speak, you end up with more energy to learn, remember, and use your words. Don’t worry – everyone loves to be listened to!

3.) Mnemonic Devices (Only for Tests)

It’s pronounced nuh-MAH-niks.

Humans are not good at remembering lists of words, rules, and translations.

We remember things better when we are emotionally connected to them… Especially if a strong emotion is involved.

Take a moment to think about your favorite song…

Are you familiar with all the words?

It’s not likely that you did so because you memorized the lyrics. It’s more likely that you had an emotional connection to it.

You can create connections in your mind by using mnemonics.

This can be done with:

• Images
• Stories
• Songs

The idea is to connect what you want to memorize with what you already know.

Here’s an example:

I wanted to remember a Japanese woman’s name that I kept forgetting. Her name was SAWA.

I found it sounded like the English word SOUR, so I visualized her biting into a lemon.

I connected the new word to one I already knew and a mental image. Helping me to remember her name.

Mnemonics are great for when you have time to think, like when you’re writing. So they are helpful for passing tests.

But communication is dynamic, and requires you to respond intuitively and quickly.

So here’s how to speak English fluently, when you don’t have time to think.

4.) Learn a Word’s Story (Not Its Translation)

Since our ancestors painted on cave walls and grunted around campfires, stories have passed down knowledge.

Through the tales of their gods, ancient Greeks learned honor, greed, and the consequences of their actions.

Because they capture our attention, paint vivid pictures in our minds, and connect us, they’re powerful.

Memorization can be improved by using stories, like a large mnemonic.

In particular, English idioms have a little story behind them that helps you remember how to use them.

The Story of the Word “Ketchup”

The word ketchup comes from the Chinese word “kê-chiap,” which means fermented fish sauce.

European traders and explorers introduced this Chinese sauce to the Western world.

Mushrooms, walnuts, and anchovies were used in British ketchup.

In the 18th century, the sauce became popular in America.

Eventually, tomato-based ketchup became the most popular.

5.) Follow the 80/20 rule

The Pareto Principle states that 80% of your results are derived from 20% of your activities.

Now let’s apply it to learning new words.

As a result of this principle, we use roughly 20% of English words in our daily conversations.

About 7% of all printed text contains the word “the” alone.

Let’s narrow down your focus.

The English language doesn’t require you to learn every word.

Consider instead:

• Interests
• Needs
• Goals

You will feel more prepared for conversations if you identify the most important vocabulary for you and prioritize learning it.

You will be able to communicate more effectively even with Business English if you know basic English.

6.) Learn how to pronounce Frederick’s name

The same way native speakers learn how to read, spell, and pronounce English correctly is by learning each letter’s sound, and how it all works together. This creates a strong and memorable connection between words and sounds. In case you need help memorizing the sound rules of English, I created a reading, speaking, and listening app called Frederick. It is designed to make practicing more fun and memorable with animations, images, and games.

7.) Regularly review

You can improve your memorization by listening to different native speakers talking about the same topic continuously.

This powerful practice is called Naturally Varied Review.

You will gain DEPTH in words and phrases, and you will be able to use your vocabulary more effectively.

To do this on your own, follow these steps:

• Picking a topic (that interests you)
• Finding three or more English YouTube videos that are made for native speakers
• Actively listening to the vocabulary and phrases

Don’t memorize vocabulary if you want to become fluent!

You can improve your memorization and speak more fluently by using the above methods.

You can learn English the same way native speakers do, so they’re the best way for you to learn.

Sign up for our English fluency course if you want expert guidance to fast-track your path to English fluency.

With this course, you’ll improve your speaking ability with real speech, visual examples, and stories about topics that interest you.

Fluency is guaranteed without word lists, translations, or grammar rules.