| Vocabulary improvement is undoubtedly one of | | | | some insight on how to use mnemonics, we'll |
| the key elements in any language learning | | | | take a look at the famous "yellow ice" |
| process, regardless if you're learning | | | | example used in several free online courses |
| French, English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese | | | | as well as in many course books: the Spanish |
| or any other language, no matter how | | | | word for ice is "hielo" which resembles the |
| "complicated" it is and what its rules are. | | | | English word yellow. This automatically forms |
| Actually, obtaining an initial vocabulary | | | | a visual image of "yellow ice" which will |
| base is one of the key elements you need to | | | | help you remember the connection between the |
| focus on when learning a foreign language and | | | | two. |
| afterwards, increasing your vocabulary is a | | | | |
| constant process you need to go through. | | | | The Dictionary method |
| There are several means to do so, some of | | | | |
| which we will be going through below. | | | | The Dictionary method is a continuous effort |
| | | | and unlike some of the other vocabulary |
| Translated texts | | | | improvement methods, it won't be that fast, |
| | | | but it will definitely be long-term |
| Using translated texts is a great way to | | | | effective. What this method is all about is |
| improve your vocabulary, especially in the | | | | trying to learn a new word in the language |
| beginning stage of the language learning | | | | you're studying on a daily basis. Open up the |
| process, when you can't deduct words out of | | | | dictionary at a random page each day, spot a |
| the context from a foreign text, simply | | | | word you don't know and memorize it and what |
| because you don't understand it at all. | | | | it means. This doesn't sound much indeed, but |
| Having a translation of the text however, | | | | in fact you will be learning several words at |
| allows you to form links between the words | | | | once with the help of the dictionary's |
| and their meanings. Obviously, it's important | | | | explanations. If you manage to form a study |
| that these texts are kept simple and clean | | | | rhythm with this method you'll be on a |
| and that they don't use words that can have | | | | constant vocabulary improvement streak. |
| several meanings that would only confuse you. | | | | |
| | | | In conclusion, one thing you need to always |
| Mnemonics | | | | keep in mind is that a language's vocabulary |
| | | | is the foundation you will be working on and |
| Although not necessarily a "new" method, | | | | if this foundation isn't strong enough, the |
| mnemonics have been proven to be very | | | | other parts of the structure won't be |
| effective in allowing students to memorize | | | | extremely stable as well. Besides the |
| new words. The "trick" behind mnemonics is to | | | | above-mentioned methods, you will be able to |
| link words in your native language to words | | | | find several more on websites dealing with |
| in the new language and form visual images | | | | language learning techniques, some of which |
| from the two. Oftentimes, these images will | | | | will prove to be well suited for you, whereas |
| be far from common, sometimes they will be | | | | others will prove to be a waste of time. It |
| bizarre or interesting, which will only make | | | | will be your call to judge which ones you |
| them easier to be remembered. To give you | | | | will take upon. |