Skip to main content

Struggling to Learn Vocabulary in New Languages? Try These Tips!

Memorizing vocabulary is a key part of learning a new language, but cramming the night before a quiz isn’t the best strategy. Learning words effectively helps you remember them long-term, and makes studying easier and less stressful.

Smart Ways to Memorize Vocabulary

  • Use Spaced Repetition – Review words regularly instead of all at once. Study them a little each day leading up to the test.
  • Make Flashcards – Write the word on one side and the definition or an example sentence on the other. Digital apps like Quizlet can also help.
  • Say It Out Loud – Reading and speaking words helps reinforce memory. Try using them in a sentence as you study.
  • Use Mnemonics – Create tricks to help remember words. For example, for the Spanish word amarillo (yellow), picture an armadillo that is bright yellow.
  • Write It Down – Copying words and definitions by hand can help solidify them in your mind.
  • Make It a Game – Quiz yourself, study with friends, or use online games to make learning more fun.
  • Use the Words – Try writing a short story or sentences with your vocabulary words to practice using them in context.

Studying a little each day instead of last-minute cramming will help you feel more confident and prepared when test day arrives.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Double Check Your Work

Sounds simple, but so many students forget to double check their work.  Spending 5 or 10 extra minutes here and there will really make a difference. Especially on tests and quizzes, use the time productively if you finish early.  Rather than socializing with your friends, be sure to look over as many answers as possible.  Correcting one or two careless mistakes might be the difference between receiving a B or an A. It's also not just about tests and quizzes.  Do it with your homework as well!  At the end of the evening, be sure to do a quick final check.  Did you finish all the work for every class, and did you remember to put every assignment neatly into your backpack?  Don't give away these easy points by forgetting to finish something -- or worse yet, finishing it but leaving it at home!
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Calm Back-to-School Anxiety After a Break

I used to get anxious the night before going back to school after winter or spring break. I’d lie in bed, wide awake, thinking about my early alarm clock, what to expect academically and socially upon my return to school, and the general chaos of getting back into a routine. And of course, the more I stressed about not sleeping, the harder it was to actually fall asleep. Eventually, though, I figured out a few ways to handle that pre-school anxiety and make the transition back a lot easier. 1. Get Back Into Routine Early One of the biggest reasons going back to school feels stressful is because breaks completely throw off your schedule. If you’ve been staying up late and sleeping in, suddenly trying to fall asleep early the night before school starts is basically setting yourself up for failure. Instead, try adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before break ends—go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, and get used to a normal routine again. 2. Prepare the Night Before A lot of my a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Focus Your Studying

In order to ace your tests and succeed in school, you obviously need to study. Studying can sometimes be a grind, so in order to be both efficient and effective with your time, you need to be ultra-focused in your study habits.  Unfocused studying can be nearly as bad as no studying at all.  Here are some best practices for how to stay focused while studying: Find a quiet study environment : It's hard to concentrate and absorb your study materials if there's loud music, a television, or talking friends and family in the background. Establish a clean workspace : It may be hard to believe, but having a clean desk is a simple way to get yourself comfortable and into a good frame of mind for studying. Avoid the computer and cell phone : You will learn at a faster pace when you can focus for a reasonable period of time without distraction.  Don't break up your thinking by continually checking your text messages or status updates on your favorite social network. Take perio...
2 comments
Read more