The best way to learn foreign words
21.09.2006, Arman Suleimenov
I had put down all the new words in my notes before, capitalizing the English word and writing its translation into Russian to the right side of it. Then I had revised them from time to time not to forget them. But I still don’t use them because I’ve already forgotten the sufficient part of them. The previous sentence can be converted without not only losing the meaning but also with extending its content and the real situation: I’ve forgotten them because I didn’t use them.
The inefficiency of the strategy outlined in the previous paragraph led me to the new way of learning foreign words, English in this case. Today in the morning I’ve used the new tactics for the first time. Now I write down the English word that is added to my extending (not extended) vocabulary (with capital letters as in the past experience, but it’s the only similarity), then search it in The Merriam-Webster Dictionary and copy the short definition into my notebook.
Learning English words using English is the first advantage of this method. When we translate it into the language that is our native or widely applied in speaking we are limited and chained to the word, not the meaning and feeling behind it. After that I try to make a sentence using this word and paying attention to its definition. This is the important feature of my way. When I made an attempt to construct a meaning sentence for the first time I realized that I didn’t understand the word’s meaning totally. The idea that I knew the meaning, its power was the illusion. Attempting to create something unique with already existing tools is far more different, far more complicated than just mechanically repeating and duplicating.
Of course, the investigated word is a new one, therefore I don’t know exactly how and in what situations I should use it. But this obstacle must not stop your desire and determination. You should make a sentence anyway. It might be wrong, but what is the punishment for being wrong? There is only an award for being wrong – this wrongness has its own intrinsic beauty and freshness and it inspires you to do it the next time in a more precise, correct manner. Then you can just address to the appropriate dictionary to find this word in action – in the sentence where it is actually used. The context is king.
You can even devote one sheet from your post-it note pad for one word. The note will contain the word itself, its definition, a sample sentence and even the sketched image of the explored notion. Then these notes can be revised during breaks, compelled waitings and so forth. And the last thing not to forget is to apply the word in speaking/writing, join it to actually used members of the permanently increasing family.
