How to Learn Vocabulary in a Foreign Language

Learning vocabulary doesn't have to be painful! Breeze through foreign language

vocabulary tests and know words for life. This lesson includes a method of memorising that
uses spreadsheets, an alternative to cumbersome flashcards. Key strategies are repeated self-
testing, making meaningful connections, and using words in context.

Method 1 of 3: Finding New Vocabulary

A) Find an interesting book or magazine in your target language. If possible, buy the
magazine or book rather than borrow. This way, you will be able to write in the book as
you read.
B) Also have a reliable dictionary and thesaurus available in the target language.
C) If you want, you can do this with a newspaper article, TV show, or movie instead.

A) Begin reading. Any words that you don't know should be highlighted. If you are
borrowing the book or magazine and can't highlight, try to circle or underline the word
with pencil so that you can erase later.

A) Note new words. After each chapter or article, write words you do not understand on a
piece of paper. The words will be easy to find because you have them highlighted or
underlined.

A) Look up meanings. Before starting the next chapter or article, look up each word in your
inventory with the dictionary. Highlight the word in the dictionary. Then, write down the
definition next to the word.

A) Find synonyms. After you have defined and highlighted each word from the dictionary,
get out the thesaurus or synonym book. Look up each word and note its synonyms and
antonyms. This will enrich your vocabulary, allowing you to express one word in many
ways. Write the most relevant synonyms next to the entry in your notebook.

A) Repeat with each chapter in your book. If it's a magazine, do this with each article. If it's a
short book, try to separate it into every 10 pages or so.

A) Study your index in the notebook everyday. Keep doing this until you have master the
vocabulary. You will be surprised by how many new words become highlighted in your
dictionary by the end of just one book!
Method 2 of 3: Memorizing a Vocabulary List with Flash Cards

A) Get out your list of vocabulary and definitions. Carefully copy down each word onto one
side of a flashcard.

A) Write the definitions. On the blank sides of the cards, write the definitions and/or english
translations of your vocabulary.

A) Quiz yourself! Look at the word on each flashcard and try to remember the definition
and/or translation. Once you can do that comfortably, look at the english
translations/definitions and try to remember the word!

A) Continue until you are comfortable with all the words. Then, try and work them into your
everyday conversations as much as possible to ensure you don't forget them.

EditMethod 3 of 3: Memorizing A Vocabulary List with Excel

A) Create a new spreadsheet in Excel. You can also use a different spreadsheet program if
desired. You will be using three columns. Label them "Foreign Word," "English
Translation," and "Test"

A) Enter the foreign words. Type your list of foreign words into the 1st column, with one
word per cell.

A) Enter the English words. Type the English translation of the word into the 2nd column.

A) Test yourself as you write in the English words. Make connections between the English
word and the foreign word. The connections you make can be:

by sound eg. imagine a MESS on the MESA ("table" in Spanish) or

 by meaning eg. DOMestic things have to do with one's home ("DOMUS" in Latin, in
Russian)

A) Make the foreign word invisible. Select the text in the 1st column containing the foreign
word and convert the text colour to white so you can no longer see the list.

A) Test yourself. Look at each word in the second column. In the 3rd column, write down the
foreign word without referring to your notes.

A) Check your answers. Reconvert the colour of the 1st (foreign) column to black. Check
your answers in the 3rd column against the original list in the 1st column.
B) If there are errors, highlight the corresponding English translation of the word in red.

A) Repeat steps 5 to 9 again, going through the whole list once more.

A) Unhighlight as you go. If you start to be able to consistently get a word right, unhighlight
it.

10

A) Repeat until there is no red left. You can stop quizzing yourself on the words you know
you can get right and just focus on the hard ones.

11

A) Test yourself once more when you know all the words. This time, imagine the word in a
foreign sentence and imagine the scene. eg. "le chat est sur la chaise" ("the cat is on the
chair" in French)

12

A) Print the vocabulary list and incorporate the new words into your writing and speaking
tasks.

13

A) Say the foreign word in your mind or aloud when you see the object or read about it in
English.

14

A) Revise your lists regularly.

Edit Tips

A) Using the words in spoken conversation is the best practice as it is active and
spontaneous.
B) Group your vocabulary in categories.
C) Use the most difficult words the most often.
D) Don't just learn vocabulary in set lists, but also identify words unknown to you in
reading and listening tasks.
E) If relevant, include the preposition that goes with the verb.
F) Use Mnemonics (memory aids) to help you learn vocabulary, that might otherwise be
difficult to remember. Learning by association makes vocabulary retention significantly
easier. For example, in Spanish, the word for "expensive" is "caro". To remember this
word, you could manage a huge expensive car parked in the middle of your street
stuffed full of money.
G) Learn phrases and idioms as a whole; put them in a single cell. eg. "j'en ai marre" ("I've
had enough" in French)
H) For gendered nouns, imagine the object in blue, pink or grey for masculine, feminine
and neuter. eg. "le chien" (French) - The dog.