Step 3.
Practice,
practice, practice. Learning a word won't help very much if you
promptly forget it. Research shows that it takes from 10 to 20
repetitions to really make a word part of your vocabulary. It helps to
write the word - both the definition and a sentence you make up using
the word - perhaps on an index card that can later be reviewed. As soon
as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your index cards
periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Also,
do a search on a word using
dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) to
get many examples of how the word is actually used.
Step 4.
Make
up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud
to activate your auditory memory. Relate the word to words you already
know. For example, the word GARGANTUAN (very large) has a similar
meaning to the words gigantic, huge, large, etc. You could make a
sequence: small, medium, large, very large, GARGANTUAN. List as many
things as you can that could be considered GARGANTUAN: Godzilla, the
circus fat lady, the zit on your nose, etc. Create pictures of the
word's meaning that involve strong emotions. Think "the GARGANTUAN
creature was going to rip me apart and then eat me!"
Step 5.
Use
mnemonics ( memory tricks). For example, consider the word EGREGIOUS
(extremely bad). Think EGG REACH US - imagine we've made a mistake so
bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Such
funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, AND
they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you
best. Everyone learns differently!
Step 6.
Get
in the habit of looking up words you don't know. If you have a
dictionary program on your computer, keep it open and handy. America
Online and other internet services have dictionaries and thesauruses on
their tool bars. Find them and look up any word you are not absolutely
sure of. Use a thesaurus when you write to find the word that fits best.
Step 7.
Play
with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and
other word games are available for the computer, so you are not
dependent on a partner to play. Also, try out the Franklin Electronic
Dictionary that features built-in word games.
Step 8.
Use
vocabulary lists. For the serious vocabulary student, there are many
books that focus on the words most commonly found in standardized
tests, such as the SAT and GRE. There are also many interesting word
sites on the Internet, many of which will send you a word a day by
email.
Step 9.
Take
vocabulary tests. Playing games, such as the ones on this site, that
test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know
how much progress you're making. Offline sources for vocabulary tests
include SAT prep books (we recommend "10 Real SATs" by ETS), and the
Reader's Digest Wordpower section. For more, check out
Amazon.com or
your local bookseller.
Step 10.
Get
excited about words! Come to appreciate the sometimes - subtle
differences between them. Do you know the difference between something
that denotes something else and something that connotes something else?
If not, go look it up. Learn to say what you really mean and discover
the joys of being able to express yourself in writing. Your future can
depend on how rich your vocabulary is. A good vocabulary will make a
difference on the standardized tests, like the SAT and GRE, that could
determine whether or where you go to college. It will also determine
the quality of your communication. So be in it for the long pull. Let
building your vocabulary be a lifelong proposition. Remember: "In the
beginning was the word." Until you have a word for something, it does
not exist for you. Name it, and you have made your reality richer.
| 
