Dr. Franz's Tips on Learning Vocabulary
(So You Will Never Forget It)
Vivian Franz, Ph.D.
- Cardinal Rule: Learn vocabulary in context. Don't merely try to attach meanings to words. It is unlikely that you will remember isolated words and dictionary meanings. Instead, use context. Example: integral/adj./necessary, being an essential part of something. "Mealtimes are an integral part of family life."
- Read with two books, the book you are reading and a dictionary, so you can learn words new to you in context. Whenever possible, write word meanings right in your book.
- This is important. Review vocabulary new to you within three hours of your first exposure to it. This means that when you study vocabulary you must schedule time for review. You must make review a part of your on-going study plan. Review is essential to remembering. If you wish to retain information, you must review.
- When you come to a word new to you, practice these steps: See it. Say it. Hear it. Write it. Use all four senses to help you remember. (If you could smell it, that would probably also help.) You are taking new information to your brain. When you look at the new word and say it aloud, you hear it. If it is academic, write it. See it, say it, hear it, write it.
- Don't try to memorize long lists of words with prefixes and suffixes. Learn two or three examples of each, then apply what you know. For example, pre means before: preview, preschool, precede (go before). Cide, as a suffix, means killer: homocide, insecticide, fungicide.
- Be a word detective. Look for parts of the word you already know. Consider the word "incontrovertible." Say: "in" means not. The "controv" part may be related to the word "controversy." If there is no controversy, it is not able to be questioned. It is indisputable.
Additionally, look for word families or related words. Then use the context with the above techniques to unlock the new word. Whatever you do, don't just pass over the word that is new to you!
- Finally, you can make up your own "tricks" to help you remember troublesome words. Hubris means arrogance. Think of someone you know who is arrogant. Attach the word to a name. A good name for "hubris" is Hubert. "Arrogant Hubert," for example. Again, use context to help you.
Remember, you are not learning for a test; you are learning for a lifetime. Whether we like it or not, people judge us in part by how we write and how we speak. In addition -- think about it -- the only thing we have in life that can't be taken away from us, as long as we remain healthy, is what we know. All material things can vanish. But, if we know a lot --principles, concepts, ideas, facts -- we will probably always be able to solve problems, to cope, to take care of ourselves and others. Isn't that what we really want?
Now, review this within three hours, so you will remember.
|
