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DOWNLOAD THIS POST IN PDF (HERE)

 

How to learn:

When starting with a new language there is a point that you will find the way you use language very repetitive; this is a normal process and an essential part of language acquisition. But there are a few steps that MUST be followed to ensure success:

  1. Write it down. You need to carry a notebook at all times and write down new words in two situations. The first is when you are speaking your native tongue and you think to yourself, “How do you say that in (the language you are learning)? And secondly, when you hear new words and you want to learn how to use them.
  2. Say it out loud. An essential part of reinforcing memory is to say new words and phrases out load. This serves various purposes to aid memory by passing new information from short-term to long-term memory, and also to make language learning practical. For extra advice on how to improve your memory click (HERE)
  3. Recall. It is very important to use language frequently; you must ensure that you repeat and recycle vocabulary and language structures as often as you can, being very recommendable to have a daily contact with English for at least 20 minutes.
  4. Organisation. Have a clear method and stick to it. You should be very clear with the process that you use to learn new vocabulary and you should use it for long enough to make sure that it works. For example:

 

There are two evident options that you can use to learn new vocabulary in this way;

  1. Use the word in your native language – translate to English – write and say sentences with the new word
  2. Use a synonym of the new word that you already know – match it to the new word – write and say sentences with the new word

 

Though these techniques are different, they have one thing in common; USE INFORMATION YOU ALREADY KNOW – MATCH IT TO THE NEW INFORMATION – USE THE NEW INFORMATION.

 

So, in a nutshell, you should:

WRITE THE WORD – SAY THE WORD – PUT IT INTO A SENTENCE – REPEAT THE PROCESS 5 TIMES WITH DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

 

The process focuses on recall so you should do it like this:

Monday: 5 new sentences

Tuesday: Review the 5 sentences (Monday) + 5 new sentences

Wednesday: Review the 5 sentences (Tuesday) + 5 new sentences

Thursday: Review the 5 sentences (Wednesday) + 5 new sentences

Friday: Review the 5 sentences (Thursday) + 5 new sentences

Saturday: Review the 5 sentences (Friday) + 5 new sentences

Sunday: Review the 5 sentences (Saturday) + 5 new sentences

 

Resources:

The great part about this vocabulary learning method is that it is simple and can be easily prepared by any language learner (it can also be adapted to any language). You can make your own resources using simple phrases with make, do (HERE),  have (HERE), get  (HERE) or take (HERE). Then from this point you can start to look at more difficult terms.

 

So, in a nutshell, you should focus on high frequency phrases such as:

  • Be fed up with/of
  • Depend on
  • Look forward to
  • Be into
  • Go off
  • As if
  • As long as
  • Take advantage of
  • Be just about to
  • Can’t stand
  • Under no circumstances

 

MAKE YOUR OWN VOCABULARY CARDS

MAKE YOUR OWN VOCABULARY CARDS (WORD)

MAKE YOUR OWN VOCABULARY CARDS (PDF)

 

Examples: You should make sets of vocabulary building cards like these with the target language that you want to learn.

VOCABULARY CARDS IN PDF HERE

FOR MORE SAMPLES LOOK AT OUR RESOURCES (HERE)

  START METHOD

 

This is a key strategy for the Start method: START: Methodology (HERE) An essential part of learning a language is the methodology used. I have spoken about the importance of using a language and context, as well as giving advice for improving the individual skills such as speaking and listening, so I thought it right to put it into a simple acronym to be able to remember: START

See it, say it and check pronunciation

Try it in a context and relate it to synonyms

Apply it and use it in phrases

Review it and remember it

Test it by using it in another context related to the exam

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