How to Expand your English Vocabulary!

How to expand your English vocabulary?

The English language is vast and has many ways to express your thoughts and feelings in words. Examples of this include synonyms which are other words that will mean practically the same thing as another word, and there are common phrases that can be used with deeper meaning or metaphors; these are just a couple of ways that the English language can be tricky but also provides you with plenty of ways to converse and write.

Increasing your knowledge of the language, and the many words that you can use, is an excellent idea; through expanding your English vocabulary you will be able to explain yourself better, have conversations in depth, and even improve your writing skills. No matter how well you can speak English, it is always a worthy aspiration to build upon your knowledge.

What Is your current level of English?

How much you are expanding your vocabulary will depend on your current ability with the language. If you are a native English speaker then of course things may be easier for you and you will be looking to add some variety and depth to your language repertoire. On the other hand, if you are learning English as a new language then you may find yourself needing to incorporate this new vocabulary alongside your studies. However, it is great that you are setting yourself this goal and as you develop your English it will be wonderful to see it in action.

If you are an English language student then you will have support available to help you expand your vocabulary, after all you will be part of an English language school. There is plenty of other ways to learn, and you will find that as you start learning more words, developing your vocabulary will become second nature to you.

Why should you expand your vocabulary?

There are many reasons as to why you should educate yourself and get a collection of words to use in your everyday life; even just having an interest in the language is a good enough reason. Of course, expanding your vocabulary is down to you and your own motivations, but here we will outline why you should do so.

It Can Open Up Conversation

If you improve your vocabulary, then it can really help when it comes to socialising. More discussions can be made with your newfound wealth of knowledge and ability to converse with an array of vocabulary. You will be able to choose what you want to say with greater ease and this can help simplify conversation.

Your writing will improve

Through learning a mix of words and ways to use them, your written work will see some impressive changes. For anyone that writes for fun, for work, for school or university and so on, improving vocabulary can get your work to a higher standard and make the act of writing easier and increasingly enjoyable. Being able to write concisely is a huge benefit in whatever you do and using complex words can make your work more desirable, no matter if you are writing a book or an essay.

Language Is Interesting

A simple reason to improve your vocabulary is that language itself is interesting! There is so much to learn and it can be fascinating to find out the meaning behind words and the origins of language. If you are attending an English language school then it’s already likely that you are eager to learn, going the extra mile to broaden your wealth of language can only be a positive thing.

People may perceive you better

This may not be your primary reason to improve your vocabulary, but it is still a valid motivation. Having a repertoire of language to use can improve the way you are presented to people, for example: in job interviews, you will be able to answer questions with more confidence in the words you use, interviewers will see you in a better light and may favour you over other candidates due to your articulate nature.

Everyday ways that you can expand your vocabulary

Getting started with vocabulary improvement may be daunting, but there are plenty of ways that you can easily incorporate the learning into your life. Finding new words often happens naturally and can lead you on a further path to discover related vocabulary. Any English language school students will find that their everyday lives are filled with discovering parts of the language they didn’t know before, helping them to refine their skills.

Read as much as you can

Coming across new words is a breeze when you read; it doesn’t matter if you are reading literature or just articles online. Through reading you will be exposed to new vocabulary that you can go on to find the meaning of, this way you will also see the word in context. The more you read, the easier it will become, and you can really get into the more challenging books and articles; this can be very rewarding and open up more possibilities for you.

Keep Talking

As we have mentioned, with an improved vocabulary you are able to have more and greater conversations, but through conversing you can also see yourself learning. When talking with people you may hear them use words or talk about concepts you were previously unaware of, this is an opportunity to learn and find out what the person means; this is quite an interactive way to learn vocabulary as you can discuss the new words with the person or people you are with.

Make Notes

Whenever you find a new piece of vocabulary that you are unsure of, write it down and keep a collection of these new words together. Find the definition of the words and any similar and keep a note of these too, you can look at your notes whenever you need to remind yourself how to use the words. After a while you may no longer need the notes, but it is always useful to keep them. You could even organise your notes to have what you deem as the most important or useful words together, making it easier for when you want to use them and to be sure you are doing so correctly.

Observe

One of the simplest ways that you can pick up new vocabulary is by observing how other people use it; this can be done by seeing how friends and family speak, or even through watching films or television. This is probably the most relaxed way to improve your English vocabulary, as long as you are aware and keeping track of words that catch your attention. Watching informative programmes such as the news and documentaries is sure to bring up a variety of valuable words, and you can learn new things alongside the language.

How can you retain your English vocabulary knowledge?

Learning the English language can be tricky due to some of its nuances, even native speakers can find themselves unsure if they are using words and punctuation correctly. However, once you get into the swing of things you can find yourself conquering the language and perfecting your use of it. When it comes to improving your vocabulary, you can find it happening naturally, but it is best that you put in some work to keep your knowledge.

As we have said, keeping a note of words is essential, this way you can keep any words you want to incorporate in your life together; you can keep reminding yourself of the meanings and which word is most appropriate. Writing the words over again can also help you to remember them; it is wise to look at them every day until you can at least remember the list.

Having notes alone won’t allow you to really expand your vocabulary; the next best steps are to use them in your writing and when you are speaking to people. Writing the words out work you may have or just coming up with a story to practice them is a sure-fire way to get used to using new vocabulary in your writing. To solidify your knowledge and be able to use your improved vocabulary, you will need to start incorporating the words into your speech. Whenever you are talking with people, try to use any words appropriate, this will require some getting used to, but after a while it will become second nature.  

Learning new habits takes time and constant repetition; this is the same for learning and implementing new words. Everyone is different, so find what works for you and use it to expand your vocabulary however you like.

When can an English Language school help with your English Vocabulary?

Independent learning is superb and can give you the freedom to learn what you need. However, having some help and guidance can never hinder your journey to expanding your vocabulary. An English language school is most suited to those new to the language, although native speakers can also benefit in learning certain aspects. An English language school is ideal to aid you in getting to know a variety of vocabulary, having a routine and curriculum will provide consistent practice so that your learning will be refreshed. Guidance can be provided by teachers who can assist in your understanding of words, giving you greater reliability than if you were on your own. Furthermore, you will be tested on what you have studied, giving you motivation to learn correctly, and being able to see your progress.

So, if you want to improve your vocabulary then get started right away. There is a huge amount of information for you to utilise, always aim to put your learning into practice and thrive with your expanded vocabulary.

If you would like to find out more about how our English language schools can help you make improvements with your vocabulary, or to find out more about English courses, then don’t hesitate to contact us. Twin group have a total of five English schools of which three are in Dublin, One is in London and the other is in Eastbourne. Catering to different age groups and ability levels. You can get in touch by emailing us at sales@twinuk.com