Category: Improve Your English

01 Oct 2023 18:53

Joined:	18/10/2008
Level:	Diamond
Points:	261065

Points:	5

What's the good word? Building a vocab library

Some of you may recall the TV game show 'What's the Good Word?' hosted by Sabira Merchant in which teams would try to guess what the word was with the given clues within a set time. It was fun and exciting, and perhaps you learned new words, too.

During my school days, our English teacher would emphasize the need to understand the meaning of words and not just blindly read something. She would instruct us to keep a dictionary nearby to refer to as soon as we came across a word that we did not understand. Coming to the present, when I read a newspaper report or a book and do not understand a word, I will ask a family member for the meaning. If they are unsure, I will refer to an online dictionary.

What are the ways that you learn new words and build your vocabulary? Do you encourage the children in your home to learn new words? Do you share a new word with other family members, and not just with the kids? I think it is important to have a lifelong experience of new words and not just consider them as a thing of the past, as part of your formal academic studies. As we grow older, learning new words whether through conversations, reading, solving a crossword puzzle, or playing a word-based board game helps us to be mentally alert. It is great nutrition for our little grey cells!

[This is an entry for the Forum Challenge Contest]

#775102

02 Oct 2023 07:09

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109183

Points:	6 (₹ 6)

It is an interesting post. During my student life I had great interest for learning new words and I did quite good efforts to achieve that. I learned many words but because I did not use them those words were practically not available in my memory to recall them as and when required.
Interestingly, I found a reason for that. What I observed was that though there are various ways that we could categorise the different words but there are three main types - first is the common words which all of us use daily and frequently, second is the words which are not very common but we often find them in newspapers, articles, and books, and the third is the difficult words which sometimes we can find in some literary novels or special technical reports and that's all about them.
In my view we should try to learn those words which we don't know but which we often find in newspapers and articles through which we go regularly. Same idea we can inculcate in the minds of our children and I feel that they will be benefited by it.

Knowledge is power.

#775107

02 Oct 2023 10:39

Joined:	19/02/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	16543

Points:	3

It is always important to learn new words and build up your vocabulary. I always use an online dictionary to find the meaning of new words. It is easy for me to find a word online instead of using a dictionary. My young child always shares new words with me and we find the meaning of that word online.

English teachers can use puzzles, quizzes, and worksheets for the improve of the vocabulary of the students. IN my school, the English teachers always use formative assessment for the same.

Honesty is the best policy.

#775110

02 Oct 2023 12:33

Joined:	25/11/2014
Level:	Diamond
Points:	43292

Points:	4 (₹ 2)

English language is definitely interesting and to reach at the the right expression what we want to convey to our readers is possible only when we select the appropriate word needed under that situation.
This calls for our expertise in choosing the appropriate words each time so that our content is fully clear to the readers. The more we have mastered in this area, the more we are close to the people in terms of interpretations with them.
This is achievable with the sound stock of words comming instantly in our memories in the crucial moment. We should definitely put our best efforts to learn new words so as to apply the same in case it fits in a given sequence.

#775118

02 Oct 2023 15:41

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145594

Points:	5

One should have a good vocabulary. It will definitely help the individual to express himself clearly to others. One need not search for words. We think we all will be good in our mother tongue. But when we start talking in that language we will use many other language words. This is mainly due to not knowing the equivalent word for the words we use.
When I was in high school, my English Teacher used to tell us to read English papers. He used to ask us to refer dictionary to know the meaning of new words and also used to advise us to make our own sentences using those words.
Once we come across a new word we should understand the meaning of the same otherwise we will forget the same. When I don't know the meaning of any word I will ask my sons and their wives and if they also don't know, I will refer online for the meaning.

drrao
always confident

#775147

03 Oct 2023 15:57

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109183

Points:	4

As I mentioned earlier in this thread about three categories of the words - common, not very common but useful, and uncommon and difficult, now I will like to share some words pertaining to second category.

1. Stance - the opinion that someone expresses publicly OR
the position in which someone stands, especially when playing a sport.
2. Assent - official agreement to something.
3. Vax - a vaccine OR to vaccinate.
4. Ingenuity - the quality of being original and inventive.
5. Peril - serious and immediate danger.

Knowledge is power.

#775376

12 Oct 2023 23:41

Joined:	19/06/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	87960

Points:	6 (₹ 6)

In day-to-day real world communications we may not need any big store of vocabulary. It is estimated that ordinary life conversations need only a few hundred or just a couple of thousand words knowledge.
Anyone with normal interactions from childhood to adult stage would have already gathered that capacity.

Just as more dress or more flower can enhance the beauty or decoration, knowledge of more words and vocabulary can enhance the beauty and charm of communication. It will give a feel of change and novelty to the speech or writing.

Exposure and repeated use is one way of enhancing vocabulary. One may read various books authored by various people. One may listen to speeches by various people especially those who are known to be having erudition is language.

It also depends whether you have such a welcoming audience. Otherwise the vocabulary will be of no use and may be even counter productive.

#775452

16 Oct 2023 11:53

Joined:	02/08/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	28770

Points:	2

Yes now online search come in handy whenever we come across new word or even some words with new usage i alwyas refer to that and thanks to technology.

shasthranaam Ganitham moordhanisthitham

What's the good word? Building a vocab library

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