How to Memorize Foreign Language Vocabulary

By eHow Education Editor

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What is a language without words? You need a large foreign-language vocabulary to speak the language well. Build it up by reviewing often.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Foreign Language Phrase Books
  • Foreign Language Tape
  • Two-way Foreign Language Dictionaries
  • Index Cards
  • Notebooks
  • Foreign Language Software

Step1
Make a two-column list of new words for each new lesson.
Step2
Include words that aren't in the textbook lesson: words you may pick up from your teacher or from native speakers.
Step3
Study vocabulary by covering one column as you move down the other.
Step4
Cover the other column and go through the list again. Repeat.
Step5
Review older vocabulary every few days.
Step6
Review again and often! Without review, your newly acquired vocab will fast become your newly forgotten vocab and, later, your long-forgotten vocab.
Step7
Integrate review into your daily routine so that it no longer seems like a burden.
Step8
Find a native speaker to talk with or, better yet, visit a place where the language is spoken. Vocabulary won't truly stick until you're forced to speak the language a lot.

Tips & Warnings

  • Use index cards instead of a notebook, if you prefer. Write the native-language terms on one side, and the foreign-language terms on the other side.
  • If you're working with a language that uses a non-phonetic writing system, make three columns: one for the native language, one for the foreign-language writing and one for the phonetic transcription.
  • Watch movies and TV programs in the new language. Read newspapers and sing songs in the new language.
  • Don't rely on the vocabulary lists in your textbook. It's important to be active in the process, so it's crucial to write words down in a format that works for you.

Comments

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wildy

wildy said

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on 5/13/2008 Wildy future diplomate United Naions

sceva1

sceva1 said

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on 3/16/2008 I found that using picture flashcards was very effective and fun when increasing my vocabulary. I have posted several different languages and blank flashcards at www.foreignlanguageflashcards.com. Everything is free, take a look and at me know if you have any suggestions.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/21/2006 Learn with a friend. You can practice questions and answers more effectively and it will be a lot more fun. Translate simple songs into another language. Poems or anything else you can remember easily work too.

Don't think "Gato means cat". Think "The gato is my pet". Try to use words in context with English or words you already know. Find a fun language. Stick with it. After 5 and a half years of Spanish, French is a bit confusing. But if you like it, stay with it. Don't keep switching back and forth.

The earlier you learn something, the better it'll stick. I learned Chinese at a tender age. However, it's a lot harder to pick things up now.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 3/17/2006 Some words in foreign languages do sound really stupid- for example in Russian, "brave brother" sounds like "smelly brat". There are a lot of words that sound funny but are still really useful so make fun of them and you'll never forget!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Since English is based on almost every language you think of, I like to remember cognates. Also, instead of thinking of it as a new language, you can think of it as adding new words to your vocabulary. When speaking, think of how you would say the words in the foreign language. Instead of memorizing, make sense of common phrases and always keep detailed notes.

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eHow Article: How to Memorize Foreign Language Vocabulary

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eHow Education Editor

Category: Education

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