Page 20 - DENG101_Communication Skills-I

Unit 2: Theme Based Vocabulary Building

means before writing it down. Then, color-code it. Highlight the part of speech with Notes

one color. When you make another flashcard with another part of speech, you’ll
use a different color. Make all the nouns yellow, all the verbs blue, etc. Your mind
remembers colors really well, so you’ll start to associate color with the part of speech,
and you’ll have an easier time remembering how the word functions in a sentence.
(d) On the lower left corner of the back of the fl ash card: Use the vocabulary word in a sentence
you will remember. Make the sentence steamy, hilarious, or creative in some other
way. If you write a bland sentence, your chances of remembering what the word
means go way down.
(i) Example of a memorable sentence: My pompous ex-boyfriend used to think he
could get any girl he wanted, until he met my friend Mandy, who laughed at
his conceited self in front of the entire school.
(ii) Example of a non-memorable sentence: The king, whose pompous heads-of-
state were trying to dethrone, decided to flee the country to save his own life.

(e) On the lower right corner of the back of the fl ash card: Draw a small picture/graphic
to go with the vocabulary word. It doesn’t have to be artistic – just something that
reminds you of the definition. For the word “pompous,” or “conceited”, maybe you’d

draw a stick person with his nose in the air. Why? You remember pictures much
better than words, which is the reason you can’t write anything on the front of the
card besides the vocabulary word – you’d remember the design and associate it with

the definition instead of associating the word with the defi nition.
Repeat this process for every one of your vocabulary words, until you have a deck of fl ash
cards.

2. Rote Method: This is something that we all hate. Rote the new words up to remember
them. But isn’t it the way we used to learn new words in the childhood?
So remember, when no other methods work, you should not hesitate to resort to the time
tested rote method.
3. Self Dictionary: We hear and read new words all of the time but rarely do we take the time
to look them up. When you hear an unfamiliar word, jot it down and take the time to look
it up later.
4. Word Games: There are many games that can be played on-line. It not only serves as a way
to entertain but at the same time, develops your vocabulary. Some of the examples of such
games are Word Search, Cross Words, Hang Mouse, Quiz, Match Game, Scramble, Letter
Blocks, etc.

5. Visualisation: At times there are very difficult words that can’t be learnt by any method
else than visualization. Words can be related with something familiar and funny so that it
can be remembered.
6. Reading: Read a lot. The experience of encountering unfamiliar words in print is remarkably
instructive. First, because you’re already engaged in reading something, you are arguably
more motivated to learn a new word so that you better understand what you’re voluntarily

reading. Second, you have come across the word organically rather than artificially (i.e. in a
vocabulary list). You’ll pick up new words – and clarify meanings of words already in your
toolkit – by exposing yourself to them in their, shall we say, natural habitat. The context
will enrich your attempt to build a better vocabulary.
Diversity of topics is important. Read some natural science stuff, applied science stuff,
contemporary literature, Shakespeare, Psychology book and then consume a humorous
work. Varied reading will sharpen both general and subject-specifi c vocabularies.

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