Teachables: How to enrich your vocabulary

So, vocabulary is word (very meta right now) after used in language study, because - it is language - at least a big chunk of it lol

You can gesture and provide facial expression all you want, but without the words, things can get difficult. At least for survival.

In academics though, vocabulary exists and operates in a slightly different way. In a way that advanced learners might need it to work. Vocabulary is needed to simply, specify and thus, shorten a sentence at hand.

In schools, vocabulary is often taught with no true goal in mind. Sure - it is good to know as many words as possible. However, if it is never contextualised and used in life - there is no point.

So, how do you enrich your studies and your life with words galore?

Vocabulary exists in context and connotation

I struggle to find reason with how vocabulary is taught for the SATs, for example. Just lists of words, hoping that a few would magically turn up on the paper.

Such study is interesting to me, as it eschews the idea of context-driven learning, but puts pressure on the student to remember terms in isolation and apply their knowledge only after the fact, when they see it being used.

If you are looking for a short-term fix, it could work. However - no enrichment of life follows. Time is given solely to the paper. And that thought scares me.

Instead, I would suggest learning vocabulary as you study and practice. That’s all.

Words are hitching a ride along with the other skills you are honing. So, an analogy would be that instead of doing crunches, you are doing an activity that incorporates other muscles, including your abs (couldn’t think of an exercise, lol)

It saves time and always you to become healthier holistically and specifically.

After which, you can train in isolation. Once you have a good, solid foundation.

Think of vocabulary and possibly even grammar, in that way.

Isolation techniques maybe work well with kids, but when you’re older, life starts to get complicated and complex. So, such targeted practice does not meld with your life, so it leaves the brain.

That’s a good thing - you are just retaining memory that works for you. Learn in that way as well. You don’t need to know all words. Because - you never will. You can though, learn how to read and infer and then - you will know how to always catch the proverbial fish every time.

Inference almost always happens within the text given 

So, don’t worry too much about not knowing a word beforehand.

Language is a vast, vast entity. You will always not know words. You are a student too - the goal is to not know words and then learn them :)

So, the trick here on how to navigate examinations that ask for meaning is to simply learn them organically before through the previous method, or to gauge the context and vibe as you read the examination passage.

The text will always have clues as to what the offending word would mean - a sentence before, a sentence after, a paragraph two paragraphs down. I’m serious. Words exist in an ecosystem. So, since a passage operates as one, swim in it and find it.

Vocabulary exists in marriages and families

They are quite the traditional bunch, aren’t they.

And before you say that divorce and breakups can happen, let’s think past that lol

Words tend to find solace in groups, or collocations, so it is great to learn in that way. If you would like to learn in isolated fashion, perhaps find a group to focus on each time. Good feelings, bad feelings, the works - categories always make the brain happy.

In terms of deciphering words themselves, again, collocations are important to note, as that showcases the finesse of your learning, of your language abilities. It is oftentimes the giveaway for when one is a learner of the language, and not so much fluent yet. As are preposition-use.

For example:

Pitch - dark / black?

Shout in / on someone’s face?

These tiny bumps, if smoothened out, would deeply help your language on the whole.

So, designate categories that you would like to delve into personally, not academically, and your journey with enriching vocabulary would commence.

If you have the energy, caring for their partnerships to other words during helps as well.

Pick up cool ones as you go 

Random parts that float by you through shows, through podcasts, through friends - perhaps have a small repository for them - an app on your phone works well.

Revisit them and perhaps learn them in isolation, yet remembering the context in which you have heard them. That’s a good way to also actively expand on your bank.

Shorten your thoughts with impactful words

Vocabulary not just adds dimension to how you speak and even think, but it actually allows for your language to become efficient.

So, in examinations especially, you are expected to encapsulate ideas and emotions into the right words - it showcases the breadth of your word bank and prowess in application in how you use it in an answer.

So, when describing an emotion of a character let’s say, in a comprehension question, you can use the right adjective, and you’re done. When relaying analysis, you can pinpoint what the author is actually doing, and use the right verb. So, memorising a bunch and using them with no nuance actually hurts your study.

All in all - let the journey be an organic one. Is there a better word for that?