{"id":36,"date":"2021-01-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nativeintonation.com\/?p=36"},"modified":"2021-02-27T11:54:08","modified_gmt":"2021-02-27T02:54:08","slug":"memorize-vocabulary-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nativeintonation.com\/memorize-vocabulary-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Memorize English Vocabulary Fast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As an English learner, you've probably bought and read some vocabulary books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You've read, learned, and memorized words — or so you thought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it's time to speak, the words just won't come out of your mouth! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does this happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

You might have even created a stack of index cards, with the word you want to memorize written at the front, and its translation at the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This method might have worked when preparing for a vocabulary quiz, but did it help with your speaking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you're still not able to effectively use the word you learned in your speech, this is what you might not be doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memorize through association <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rote memorization helps with exams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what you're aiming for is being able to use any vocabulary freely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We memorize the best through association. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn new words, and try to associate those words with what you already know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to make such an association?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create your sentences with the new words.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associate the new words with what you already know, and visualize them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study shows that having a lot of strong pathways between your neurons, called synapses<\/em>, matters far more to your memory than the actual number of neurons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put it simply, the more you make connections in your mind, the more likely you are to memorize them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just having more information alone won't do! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why it is recommended that you not only learn the meaning of a word but also create a sentence<\/strong> with the new word based on your past experience or existing knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to make your sentence <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say you are learning the word \u201cresign\u201d which means to leave a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I told you to create your sentence, you might come up with a sentence like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I must resign.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sentence won't help you memorize the word. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There's a right way and wrong way to create your sentence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sentence does not have any context! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could have replaced the word “resign” with a word like, “vomit,” and it would still be a perfectly grammatical sentence… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sentence you create has to have enough context so that you get the meaning of the word right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you review your notes, you should be able to figure out and recall what the word means from the context. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That's why the sentence you create should have enough context<\/strong>, preferably based on your personal experience and knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about this sentence? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPresident Nixon resigned from the office following the Watergate scandal.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sentence has clue words<\/strong> to hint at the meaning of the word \u201cresign.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can tell that something happened while Nixon was in the office, and also specifically when. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you already know about the former U.S. president Nixon, then this sentence might be enough for you to learn the word, “resign.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you have no idea what Watergate scandal <\/em>is, you should come up with a sentence that resonates with you more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Note-taking\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Learn through context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to make a word stick is to associate them with what you already know, and what you already care about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are likely to remember when something is relevant<\/strong> to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We remember things that we care about. <\/strong>We forget about things that we don't. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use this psychology when trying to learn new vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next time you learn a new word, create your sentence and try to associate it with things like these: <\/p>\n\n\n\n