Ashimova N.

Kazakh state women`s teacher training university

Almaty, Kazakhstan

EFFECTIVE WAYS OF LEARNING NEW WORDS

Learning vocabulary is a very important part of learning a language. The more words we know, the more we will be able to understand what we hear and read; and the better we will be able to say what we want to when speaking or writing. We need to learn a lot of new words and to remember them is difficult. It is very important to constantly replenish your vocabulary and memorize new words when learning any foreign language. However, not everyone turns to do so with success. Every day we hear or read many new English words. We also find them in our dictionary when we are translating from our own language. We can’t possibly learn all these new words, so our first problem is to decide which ones to concentrate on. Here are some suggestions:

- learn the words that are important to the subjects we are studying

- learn the words that we read or hear again and again

- learn the words that we know we will often want to use ourselves

- do not learn words that are rare or not useful

How to learn words

Once we have chosen which words to learn, we next have to decide how we are going to learn them. Here are a few ideas:

- write the words in a notebook (with their translations or definitions)

- write the words and definitions on small cards

- say the words many times (if you have an electronic dictionary you can hear how the word is pronounced)

- put the words into different groups (you could use a graphic organiser)

- write them in a file for use with a computer program

- make associations (in pictures or with other words)

- ask someone to test you

- use the words in your own speaking or writing

Making an associative network

Our brain perceives what we read and converts into images, ideas and feelings, and then forms a connection between new information and what we`ve already known. This is a way of remembering a new word is combined with the old. Imagine a tree. It is easier to see a large spreading tree with many branches and leaves than a small tree with multiple branches. The same is true for the brain. When you connect a new word or concept that you`ve already known, it is easier to the brain to find and remember at the right time.

Let`s learn how to do it. Draw a web of concepts. Take what you want to remember (a word, an idea, a sentence), and write it in the centre of the paper. Then draw a line from it in all directions, like a spider's web. At the end of each line write down any word or even draw picture that comes to mind when you think of the word written in the centre. What the association will be it doesn't matter, just write down everything you can imagine. It takes only a few minutes and now all the words or concepts are interconnected in your brain. If you see or hear one of them, it will be easier to remember the rest. To make it work, say how a particular word is associated with others. The more we do, the more connections are formed. And the more connections, it is easier for our brain to «see» the word we want to remember.

Memorizing phrases (collocations)

Memorizing the word is important but English, like any other language, is not just a set of concepts, it is a tool which people use to communicate and express their thoughts. Find examples of how a particular word is used in the text. Write down not only the word itself, but also the neighbouring words. For example, if you need to memorize the word «arrogant» (тәкаппар), you can write: «the tall, arrogant man» (ұзын бойлы тәкаппар жігіт). It helps you to remember that «arrogant» is the adjective used to describe people. Then try to make three complete sentences to practice using it.

Image usage

Draw small pictures to remember the meaning of the word. Our brain gets so repetitive information that a strange picture - it's kind of a surprise. It fact we always remember surprises. Our brain reads better visual information. Draw a funny picture illustrating the meaning of the word, and you will remember it much faster.

Compose stories

English learners often complain that new words are too many and difficult to remember. There is one technique that can be applied. Compose any, even ridiculous story, which involves all the words. Imagine it in detail.

We easily remember stories, if you can recreate them in our mind. Do not hesitate to combine the words in funny ways.

Memorizing opposites

Memorize pairs of words with opposite meanings (antonyms) and words with similar meanings (synonyms). For example, «angry/happy» and «angry/cross» remember the pair at the same time. We quickly remember similar and opposite things, аs the brain creates a connection between them.

«Morphemic analysis». Parsing words on the composition

Use roots, prefixes and suffixes to guess what a word means.

For example: even if we are unfamiliar with the word «microbiology», we can guess what it means. First, we look at the prefix «micro». Micro means something very small. We may know that part of the «-logy» means the science, the study of something. So, we can say that we are talking about learning something small. Also we might remember that «bio» means life, living creature. Thus, we can come to the conclusion that «microbiology» is the study of microscopic living organisms. If we drew up a list of common prefixes (un-, dis-, con-, micro-, etc.) and suffixes (-able, -ly, -ent, -tion, -ive, etc.) and remember what they mean, we will be able to guess the meaning of new words.

Time

According to psychologists who study how we remember anything, there is a better way to learn things quickly and permanently. Use the new word immediately. Use it 10 minutes later. Use it 1 hour later. Use it 1 day later. Use it 1 week later. After that, you’ll rarely have to review – the new vocabulary is yours forever.

Train words

Train words in a conversation with a friend. Find a friend; explain to her/him what you need, and start practicing! Make a dialogue and try to use as many new words as possible. The conversation doesn't have to be meaningful, sometimes even fun. It is important that you improve your vocabulary and also get a reason to laugh!

Learning vocabulary by reading

The way you learned very many of the words in your own language was by meeting them in the books and magazines you read. The context of a new word in a sentence or story was often enough for you to guess the meaning. Meeting the word again and again in your reading helped you learn it for use in your own speaking and writing. Doing lots of extra reading for pleasure - both fiction and non-fiction - is an excellent way to learn new English words, too. But choose books that you find quite easy to read. Difficult stories or texts that you struggle to understand will not help you to develop your vocabulary the natural way. You should remember to learn new words from reading you have to read a lot!

Bibliography:

1. L. McBride. How to learn a new language with a used brain.

2. J. Mukoroli. Effective vocabulary teaching strategies for the English for academic purposes Esl classroom.

2.