| ng up your vocabulary is arguably the most | | | | teach you the same amount of new words as |
| important part of a language learning process. If | | | | say translated texts or other methods that deal |
| you don't have a base vocabulary to work with, | | | | with improving your vocabulary, but they can be |
| you can't study grammar, you have absolutely no | | | | a fun alternative to take during those study |
| use for spelling or pronunciation exercises and | | | | breaks. Also, remember that everything we learn |
| writing or reading is definitely out of the question. | | | | while relaxing and having fun is assimilated a lot |
| That's why it's crucial to have a good vocabulary | | | | easier and for a longer period of time. |
| work-up at the beginning of your studies but also | | | | 3. Foreign language media |
| to keep building it up as you go. Here are a few | | | | Media is obviously a strong source of vocabulary |
| ways to do this. | | | | gain and the fun fact about it is that you won't be |
| 1. Translated texts | | | | shedding a sweat learning the new words, as they |
| This is a great method to use in the beginning of | | | | will come naturally. Every bit of radio, TV, |
| your studies, when you can't handle reading (and | | | | stationary ad, computer game or any other type |
| understanding) a text solely in the foreign | | | | of media you can watch or hear in the foreign |
| language you're emphasizing on. Translated texts | | | | language you're studying should be treated as an |
| act as a natural dictionary as they will involuntarily | | | | opportunity to improve vocabulary. Obviously, |
| form connections as you read the two versions | | | | some languages will be harder to learn through |
| of the same text. The downside however is that | | | | this method, whereas others will be extremely |
| if the texts are too ambiguous or too | | | | easy (English/Spanish anyone?). If you find a good |
| complicated, you risk misunderstanding entire | | | | learning source, you could use foreign language |
| phrases or mistakenly attributing meanings to | | | | media as a main method of vocabulary increase, |
| certain words. That's why it's extremely | | | | but if these sources are scarce, you shouldn't rely |
| important that the translated text you're working | | | | solely on it. |
| with is well written and doesn't have any slang, | | | | Once you have a relatively good grasp on that |
| confusing words, words with different meanings | | | | language's vocabulary and you formed a solid |
| and so forth. You should also look for the most | | | | word database with which you can work with, |
| basic translated texts at first. Don't worry if you | | | | feel free to move on to more complex elements |
| find it silly to translate "It's hot during the | | | | of the language, such as spelling, pronunciation, |
| summer", it's a starting point and you won't be | | | | writing, grammar and so forth. As to where you |
| better off skipping it. | | | | can find translated texts, vocabulary games and |
| 2. Vocabulary games | | | | even language-specific media, know that there are |
| Vocabulary games are a great way to enhance | | | | several language learning sites out there that |
| your word base, but they should usually be used | | | | provide such content for both novice and |
| only as an additional method for this purpose. The | | | | advanced students. |
| fact with vocabulary games is that they cannot | | | | |