1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Today, we're going to talk about one of the biggest 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:09,080 goals that English learners have, and that is building vocabulary. 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:14,599 You've probably felt this before, like, ugh, I want to 4 00:00:14,679 --> 00:00:20,039 express myself but I just don't have the words. Or 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,160 maybe you're reading something and you keep thinking, I know 6 00:00:24,359 --> 00:00:28,039 this word, I've seen it before, but what does it 7 00:00:28,239 --> 00:00:34,320 mean again. Well, first of all, that's totally normal, and second, 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,520 I've got you. In this English Lesson podcast. I'm going 9 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,079 to give you simple, practical tips that will help you 10 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:51,439 grow your vocabulary without feeling overwhelmed or bored. Let's jump in. 11 00:00:54,359 --> 00:00:58,079 Speaker 2: Welcome to another Happy English podcast, coming to you from 12 00:00:58,119 --> 00:01:01,880 New York City, and you're your English teacher, Michael. 13 00:01:02,479 --> 00:01:07,079 Speaker 1: All right, thank you, Jan and thanks everyone. It's Michael 14 00:01:07,159 --> 00:01:11,799 here from Happy English and I help people speak English better. 15 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:18,920 This is Happy English Podcast, Episode eight eighteen. Build Vocabulary 16 00:01:19,079 --> 00:01:25,560 without getting bored. Hello and welcome. Thanks for joining me 17 00:01:25,719 --> 00:01:29,560 for another episode of the Happy English Podcast. I'm your 18 00:01:29,599 --> 00:01:33,959 English teacher, Michael, and I'm so glad you've decided to 19 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,920 tune in and check it out. Today, I want to 20 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,400 give you my five best tips for building your English vocabulary. 21 00:01:43,239 --> 00:01:50,120 The first tip is don't memorize word lists instead connect 22 00:01:50,159 --> 00:01:54,159 words to situations. Let me ask you a question, and 23 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,480 be honest. Have you ever made a huge vocabulary list 24 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,560 with like ten, twenty or fifty new words and then 25 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,719 forgot all of them a week later? Yeah? Me too, 26 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,400 even when I study Japanese. The thing is we remember 27 00:02:11,479 --> 00:02:15,439 words better when they're connected to real life. Let me 28 00:02:15,479 --> 00:02:19,560 give you an example. Instead of learning the word awkward 29 00:02:19,719 --> 00:02:23,360 from a list, learn it in a sentence, like at 30 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,639 the party, it was so awkward when no one laughed 31 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:32,719 at my joke. Just imagine that situation. You tell a joke, 32 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:40,080 no one laughs, that's awkward. Boom. Now that word will stick. 33 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:45,360 Context is king, and so you should try to learn 34 00:02:45,479 --> 00:02:52,199 new words in context like stories, conversations, or short dialogues. 35 00:02:52,719 --> 00:02:57,960 It helps a lot. And here's the next tip. Learn phrases, 36 00:02:58,479 --> 00:03:04,439 not just sing words. Here's a secret. Native speakers don't 37 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:09,000 just speak in words. They speak in chunks or groups 38 00:03:09,039 --> 00:03:14,639 of words. So, for example, instead of memorizing the word recommend, 39 00:03:15,319 --> 00:03:19,599 try learning it in a phrase like I'd recommend the 40 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:25,599 fried chicken here, I recommend it? Or can you recommend 41 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:30,599 a good movie? Can you recommend blah blah blah. That's 42 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,560 a common phrase, and this way you're learning how the 43 00:03:34,599 --> 00:03:39,639 word is actually used, not just the dictionary meaning. It 44 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,680 also helps you speaking sound more natural. Learn the word 45 00:03:43,879 --> 00:03:47,360 in the context that it's usually used in. And there's 46 00:03:47,439 --> 00:03:51,439 a bonus to this tip. It makes grammar easier too, 47 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,800 because you're learning the whole sentence structure without even thinking 48 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:00,400 about it. Can you recommend blah blah blah or I 49 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:06,159 recommend blah blah blah. Okay. The next tip is to 50 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,960 use new words right away. This is huge. If you 51 00:04:11,159 --> 00:04:14,639 don't use a word, you lose it. So if you 52 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,720 learn a new word today, try using it today. Let's 53 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:23,399 say you learn the word binge watch, so send your 54 00:04:23,399 --> 00:04:27,839 friend a text something like last night, I binge watched 55 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,720 five episodes of Game of Thrones. Or say it out 56 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:37,399 loud to yourself, I binge watched Netflix. That's why I'm 57 00:04:37,439 --> 00:04:42,439 so tired. The key here is to use it to 58 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,519 remember it. The more you say it, write it, or 59 00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:52,600 hear it in action, the stronger it sticks. Okay. Tip 60 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:58,120 four is to create a personal dictionary, but make it fun. 61 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,959 Instead of a boring notebook with a list of words, 62 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,519 try this. Make a personal dictionary and it can be 63 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:11,519 digital or handwritten and only add the words you want 64 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:16,879 to remember. So you write down the word, a short definition, 65 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:22,199 hopefully in English, and a sentence that you made, and 66 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:25,560 maybe even a little picture or emoji to help you 67 00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:31,279 remember it. Like let's say the word is grumpy, so 68 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,920 you write grumpy means to be in a bad mood, 69 00:05:35,439 --> 00:05:39,040 and then you write your example like I get grumpy 70 00:05:39,079 --> 00:05:41,439 if I don't get a cup of coffee in the morning, 71 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:48,560 angry emoji. That way, you're not just copying info, you're 72 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:53,839 making it your own. Someone once said, what did they say? 73 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,160 You should take the word, write it in a sentence 74 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,920 that's true for you, and then memorize your sentences. Hmmm, 75 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,160 I wonder who that was. The last tip for today 76 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,959 is to just make vocabulary part of your everyday life. 77 00:06:12,519 --> 00:06:16,759 You don't need to study one hundred new words a week. Seriously, 78 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,800 try learning just three to five words a week, but 79 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,120 use them often. And here's some of the things you 80 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,279 can do. You can label things in your house with 81 00:06:28,399 --> 00:06:32,519 sticky notes, choose your own personal word of the day 82 00:06:32,639 --> 00:06:37,399 and speak it three times. Watch a short YouTube video 83 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,360 or podcast and write down one or two new words 84 00:06:41,399 --> 00:06:46,639 you liked. Even talk to yourself Okay, what's for dinner tonight? 85 00:06:46,879 --> 00:06:55,720 I'm starving. Ooh, leftovers. Leftovers, that's a good word. The 86 00:06:55,759 --> 00:07:00,120 more your vocabulary practice feels like a natural part of 87 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:05,439 your life, the more fun and effective it becomes. So 88 00:07:05,519 --> 00:07:10,639 let's do a quick recap. Don't memorize word lists. Learn 89 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,959 words in real situations and learn phrases, not just words. 90 00:07:16,759 --> 00:07:21,439 Use new words right away, speak, write and think with them. 91 00:07:22,079 --> 00:07:27,199 Make your own personal dictionary, and practice a little often. 92 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:32,959 Make vocabulary part of your everyday life, and remember this. 93 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:37,720 You can get more practice using your English when you 94 00:07:37,839 --> 00:07:42,360 join my podcast learner's study group. There you can make 95 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,839 new friends. Join us for live group lessons every week 96 00:07:47,079 --> 00:07:51,959 where we practice these podcast lessons together. Plus you get 97 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,879 access to the PDF, transcript and audio download for every 98 00:07:55,959 --> 00:07:59,680 Happy English podcast in the past and in the future. 99 00:08:00,079 --> 00:08:04,000 And on top of that, each episode has exercises where 100 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,519 you can practice this English point with speaking and writing 101 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,920 checked by me. To learn more, well, just visit Myhappy 102 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:17,199 English dot com and choose podcast lesson eight eighteen. Remember, 103 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,519 learning another language is not easy, but it's not impossible, 104 00:08:21,959 --> 00:08:26,079 and I'm here to help you on your journey. 105 00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:29,759 Speaker 2: This podcast is brought to you by Happy English. Please 106 00:08:29,839 --> 00:08:34,399 visit Myhappy English dot com. Show your support for Happy 107 00:08:34,399 --> 00:08:38,200 English by leading us a review. 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