Building an Effective Vocabulary

Before I tell you how to build a truly effective vocabulary, I want you to know that I've added an "About" page to explain a little more about myself and The Language Station. Check it out when you get a chance. I'll also be adding other pages soon, including a resource page. Now for today's post, "Building an Effective Vocabulary."

In my last post, When Grammar is a Problem in Language Learning, I gave you advice that usually makes language instructors tilt their head in disbelief when they hear it. To many, asking students to focus on vocabulary in the beginning and to leave the grammar for later, seems counterproductive. Actually, it’s not. 

Why not?

Because the vocabulary I recommend for a student to focus on automatically forces some grammar in, but without explanation of any rules. This method has been tested on the ground in real life and it gets students FUNCTIONING in day-to-day situations, very quickly. That’s only IF a student actually puts it into practice.  Tips like these will continue to make more and more sense as I post future additions. These first three tips are only part of a series. They work best when put together.

Unconventional Tip Number Three: The vocabulary to learn in the early stages should ONLY include nouns and verbs that can be used IMMEDIATELY. The choice of which ones will vary based on the student’s surroundings or needs. For a simple example, a woman studying English for business should only learn the words that she will hear or need to speak today and tomorrow in her work. Don’t limit yourself to the suggested vocabulary of a course book unless it really fits your immediate needs. Otherwise, you probably wont be able to use everything it suggests, and you will definitely need more than it gives. Create your OWN vocabulary list. Don't add to your list more than about five or ten words in a day. In one week, that makes 35-70 words! Not bad for a start, eh?

In my next post, I’ll give you three more steps to complete this process so you can start speaking complete phrases, c-o-r-r-e-c-t-l-y and without consciously learning the grammar. This will be perhaps one of the BIGGEST and most helpful tips I can give you. I’ll also have a word or two for those who are learning an Asian language like chinese etc.

Until then, Happy Language Learning!

Mark

When Grammar is a Problem in Language Learning

When adults begin to study a foreign language, most courses and conventional text books present grammatical concepts immediately. But I am convinced the worst mistake language learners can make is to focus on the grammar upfront.

Why?

I have many reasons for saying this, but for now here are three:

1. It's an unnatural way to process a language

2. You need to understand your own language's grammar first (and most people don't) before you can grasp another

3. It shifts the focus from communicating, to calculating, and therefore slows you down to the point of frustration and discouragement. And if you're a perfectionist like me, attention to correct grammar too early may just completely paralyze you for fear of not "saying it correctly."

Think about how children learn languages. Do adults explain to them proper grammar or sentence structure? Do kids pause to ask themselves if this phrase or that phrase requires the present perfect or the past simple?

Of course not!

Toddlers learn by making all those mistakes that we big people think are so cute. But one thing is certain: They are determined to make themselves understood, and typically with just a word or two. Kids are NOT afraid to use what they know BEFORE they understand grammar.

Obviously, grammar DOES have a place in my own language studies, and when I teach others. But it's not at the very beginning. By making mistakes and simply using what they know, young ones stay encouraged to keep on talking, and eventually learn to speak correctly anyway.


This is one of the secrets to learning a language fast. Don't let grammar slow you down, get some vocabulary and start using it immediately.

Unconventional Tip Number Two: Focus on vocabulary in the beginning, and leave the grammar for later. I'll explain how best to do this and what to do with your new vocabulary, in my next post.

Happy Language Learning!

Mark