Applications for learning English words. Programs for easy memorization of words Application for memorizing foreign words

Why memorize English words?

Learning English has become a necessity for many people. For schoolchildren, it is dictated by the requirement to pass exams. For traveling people, this is an opportunity to communicate with representatives of other nations. Learning a language involves mastering several skills. The basis on which these skills are based is the study of words. Having studied several times and having practiced a couple of weeks in their use, you can already express yourself quite clearly. But then another difficulty arises, the study of words. If you approach this, at first glance, tedious process creatively, you can speed it up many times. You can even learn to enjoy it. Let's look at a few well-known ways to learn English words.

1. Write words in a notebook

This is the easiest way to accumulate new words. It is usually offered in schools. Maria Ivanovna gives the task to write out all the new words in a notebook and learn them by heart.Then she asks for their translation from Russian into English and from English into Russian. This method of memorizing words is not bad, but it has its drawbacks. The position of the words in the list is remembered. Difficulty concentrating on words that are hard to remember. In the future, words learned in this way are poorly recognized.

2. Write words on cards

This method is much more efficient than the previous one. You write words on cards on both sides. An English word and its transcription are written on one side. On the other side are written synonyms (if they are), example words in a sentence and translation into Russian. Such memorization of words allows you to divide words into " I know», « don't know"And then focus on words that are difficult to learn, that is -" don't know". Here is a more detailed description of the process of learning English words from flashcards. You can make the cards themselves from cardboard or thick paper, or you can purchase ready-made ones in the online store.

3. We select synonyms and antonyms

If possible, it is necessary to think and find synonyms and antonyms for the word being studied. In this form, words are remembered faster. For example, do you know the word fast - quick. Then you met the wordswift - fast, but you don’t know this word yet. You associate it with the word fast, swift = fast. So it will be remembered much faster. And if you still find the antonym slow for it - slow, then the connection will be stronger.

4. Surprised by the new

If possible, create some unrealistic association in your mind. For example, remembering the word fast – fast you along with fast food represent the title slow food . Such associations usually cause a smile. They are unusual - so they are remembered much faster. This ability to change, design and wonder is very important. You are not just assigning one value to another, but looking at it from different sides, from different angles. You wonder, admire and laugh at what you made up. Any information undergoing such processing will be kept in memory much longer.

5. Looking for associations

Sometimes it is difficult to remember a new English word. Well, it is not remembered and that's it! In this case, it is necessary to find associations to it. For example, the words are often confused blackberry - blackberry, bilberry - blueberries and strawberries - Strawberry. If we break them down into components, for example, black - the black, berry - berry. Bill similar to bill - account and straw - straw. It is quite easy to remember these words.blackberry remembered as "black berry". And if you also remember the once very popular phone, then remember the meaning of the word even better.

Blueberries are remembered as "the berry that lies on the bill."

Strawberries are remembered as "a straw that is stuck in strawberries."

For associations, it is better to use words that can be easily imagined, that can be seen, endowed with taste, color, touch, etc.

The more words you know, the easier it will be for you to find associations to new words. Therefore, many are surprised how 80-year-old professors sometimes remember words or other information better than teenagers. The secret lies in the right habit of remembering and a huge vocabulary.

6. Remember words in context

Unprepared students memorize words as "word" = "translation". In this form, they are remembered very poorly. Too loose connections. Our memory works with images, emotions, rhythms, and therefore information should be presented to it in this form. Don't forget to look at how a particular word is used. We have a tendency to use words that we use in Russian in English without specifying the context. For example, when we ask in a cafe “whether a chair is occupied or not”, in Russian, we use the word busy -busy . Unfortunately, we cannot say Is this chair busy ? Is this chair occupied? It would be correct to say " Is this chair occupied? Is this chair occupied? Word busy implies the absence of time, which cannot be applied to an inanimate object, in our case, a chair. Therefore, check the context of each word according to the examples given in dictionaries.

7. Learn to Express Emotions with Synonyms

We have already written that it is very desirable to find synonyms with antonyms for the words you want to remember. New words connect more easily with words you already know. Another aspect of such memorization is finding words to express certain emotions. We live in a world of emotions and logic. Depending on the temperament of a person, one or another component predominates in it. Therefore, it is good to have ready-made blanks in stock. For example, let's take joy. How can we admire this or that event? Let's find a few words that make it possible to do this.

It's cool!

It's wonderful!

It's beautiful!

It's amazing!

It's thrilling!

It's exiting!

It's breathtaking!

It's far out!

By forming words into groups according to their purpose, it will be easier for you to use them.

8. Ridiculous stories

We have already written that words similar to each other are remembered worse, so you should not learn words alphabetically. If the word is clothed in a story, or rather in an absurd story, the effect will be even stronger. For example, you need to remember the wordceiling - ceiling. You imagine that you have entered your room, and there the entire ceiling is made of silicone. It may be difficult for some to imagine silicone. Silicone is a material with elastic properties. The story is ridiculous, because ceilings are not made of silicone, so your memory will remember this image much better.

9. Chat with friends

In every difficult case, a person needs helpers. It is necessary to maintain your enthusiasm and one of the most effective methods is communication.Try to find friends with whom you will communicate in English. Now there are many different applications that allow you to find friends of interest from English-speaking countries and discuss some interesting topics for you in the language of your interest. There are apps where you can exchange help with those who are learning your native language in exchange for advice on the language you are interested in. In this case, the language ceases to be an end, but becomes a means. This is well described in the book Passed By.

10. Watching movies in English

Watching movies is one of the most powerful ways to learn languages. You immerse yourself in the situation and struggle to understand what is at stake. In this state of “special interest,” you remember words much better. We recommend that you do screenshots(screenshots) with the words you want to learn if you are a beginner and watch movies on your computer. After taking a screenshot and looking up the word in the dictionary, leave it without writing down the translation. This will force your memory to be active. If you are watching a movie in a company and it is inconvenient to constantly stop it, then you can read the script in advance and learn all the unfamiliar words. In this case, it will look much more productive.

11. Repetition is the mother of learning

In this old proverb lies the key to success in the study of any subject. Memory cuts off unnecessary information, and its necessity or uselessness is determined by the frequency of its occurrence in your memory, and the relationship to it. We must really remember it. Having hung all the rooms, the bathroom and the toilet with stickers with English words, we will not force our memory to remember them. She will find a way to let them pass.

It is necessary to develop the habit of repeating the material covered in each next lesson. Move on to the study of new material only with a good mastery of the old. Proverb " to bounce off teeth” will help to understand the meaning of what was said. Unfortunately, this principle is not taken into account in many training programs. Such large intervals are made between repetitions that when the time comes to the test on the material covered, the student looks at the material already studied once as if it were completely new. Therefore, do not forget to bring what you have learned to perfection.

And how often do you need to repeat the learned words so as not to forget them?

There are many tips and tables showing memory cycles and effective repetition rates. It should be noted that they are designed for the average student or adult, while memorization performance in a very highly dependent on individual abilities, which, in turn, develop rapidly with regular training.

Start learning words proven 3 by 3 memorization technique with an interval between sets 2 hours and then see how it works for you. With a good result, you can increase the time interval between repetitions. If bad, it should be reduced.

12. We plan our training

Write down on a piece of paper the skills you are working on and the skills you want to develop in the future. Put them in a table, setting the tasks and the time allotted to them. Track your progress by working on these tasks every day. You don't have to be able to work on every skill every day. In our case over speaking, by reading, by letter and listening. Just systematically devote time to them, recording the results. If you don’t have the time or desire to practice a skill, then it doesn’t matter. Fixing your inability to do it now, sooner or later you will have a desire to do it. Well, you do not want to read something now. Okay, watch movies. Well, you do not want to write an essay today. Okay - chat with John about music.Use your mood to learn more effectively. Learning should be fun, not torture. And most importantly, focus on your accomplishments, not on what you haven't done yet. You need to feel progress and planning with accountability will help you with this. You can register and study words on-line, then in your personal account you can see how many words you have already learned, and how much you have learned them in time.

“We forget words just like names. Vocabulary must be constantly fertilized, otherwise it will perish.” Evelyn Waugh, British writer

When starting to learn English, many people want to find the easiest and fastest way to achieve their goal. And since one of the most important goals is, the question arises: how to learn words easily and quickly? Words can really be learned easily, you can learn quickly, but you have to choose - either quickly, but with the sweat of your brow, or easily, but slowly.

I call these two ways of remembering words easy and difficult.

• the hard way- this is memorizing words with the help of cards, exercises, when you take a set of, say, 20 words and purposefully memorize them. I call this method difficult because it requires effort to memorize. In fact, after a little practice, memorizing words no longer seems difficult.
• easy way- this is a passing, latent memorization while reading, listening, communicating in English. I call this method easy because you don't make any effort to purposefully memorize, but just read, watch, etc.

Easy but slow way to learn English words

Let's start with an easy but slow way - practice. Surely you have heard that the best vocabulary, and knowledge of the language in general, develops in the process of practice: reading, listening, speaking and writing.

Indeed, when you read books, look, some of the words settle in your memory. Words that are often repeated or guessed from the context are remembered. If you come across difficult and at the same time important words for understanding the plot, you have to look for their meaning - such words can also be remembered. When you write or speak, you have to activate your vocabulary, fishing out words, expressions, integers from memory. The more often you use words in speech, the easier they are remembered next time.

Practice is an easy way to learn words. You do not study, do not study in the usual sense of the word - with a notebook, a textbook, but simply read for your own pleasure, watch a series or communicate. But, unfortunately, it cannot be said that reading or listening is a quick way to learn words. Yes, words are remembered qualitatively, with reference to the context, but in a small amount.

A quick but difficult way to memorize English words

On the other hand, there is a quick way with which you can learn about 20, 50, 100 or even more words in one go - this is memorizing words using double-sided cards.

Why flashcards are an effective way to learn words on your own?

Cards are effective because they use the principle of active recall.

Active recall- This is the principle of effective memorization of information, based on the active stimulation of memory during the memorization process. Its opposite is passive review, when information is not retrieved from memory, but simply read.

For example, if you are reading a history textbook, this is passive repetition. If you answer the question "What were the prerequisites for the Decembrist uprising?" is active recall.

Information is remembered better, better, if it is not just read from the carrier (read the chapter of the textbook), but also “pumped” with the help of active recall (retell the chapter and answer the teacher’s questions). It is the poet who often in the textbooks at the end of the paragraph gives questions for self-testing - by answering them, you will avoid the effect of “it flew in one ear, flew out of the other”.

The easiest way to apply this principle to memorizing words is to use ordinary double-sided flashcards with an English word (expression) on one side and Russian on the other.

The easiest way to learn words from flashcards is this:

• We make cardboard cards of a convenient size,
• We write the English word on one side, and the translation on the other - at this stage, the initial acquaintance with the “questions” and “answers” ​​takes place.
• We look at one side, guess the other.
• We turn over the card and check the guess.

It turns out that by looking at the card, you got question, then goes active recall- an attempt to remember the meaning of the word. Turning over the card, you check answer. The key point is recall, it is at this stage that memory is actively working, and information is remembered.

If you did not make a set of cards yourself, but took a ready-made one, you first need to look through them so that an initial acquaintance occurs, that is, so that there is something to remember later.

Cardboard and electronic cards

Cards can be used cardboard and electronic. I used both of them a lot, and I will tell you about both options.

Cardboard cards

Flashcards are a simple yet extremely useful language learning tool.

Above, I gave the simplest way to learn words using cardboard cards: look at one side, remember the other. To help memorize words more effectively, I recommend:

• Words need to be driven in both directions: from English to Russian (easier) and from Russian to English (harder). If you remember that "birch" is "birch", this does not mean that you will remember that "birch" is "birch".
• Read the words and say the answer aloud - it helps to remember the word, and the correct pronunciation, and the answer.
• On the first try, you can guess only a few words from the deck, on the second - more. Put the guessed and unguessed words in different piles and run the deck until you can guess all the words without hesitation.
• Ideally, words should be remembered instantly, automatically.
• Equate the slightest hesitation in the answer with the wrong answer.
• If you have memorized words, but they are not remembered well, there is a way to bring recognition to instantaneous: work through the deck several times with a stopwatch, each time trying to beat the previous time.

You can read more about how to learn words from cardboard cards in the article:

There is a significant drawback in working with cardboard cards: they need to be made and stored. I myself did a lot of work with cards, and I remember that it took longer to cut cardboard into eight pieces and sign them than to learn words.

Electronic cards

With electronic cards, the basic principle is the same: look at the word, remember the translation, check the answer. But the electronic format provides many conveniences and opportunities:

• It's easier to make cards, no need to store them.
• Cards can be made with pictures, automatic voice acting.
• There are modes, exercises that are impossible with cardboard cards (for example, typing a word from dictation).
• With the help of the word, you can always take it with you and repeat it anywhere.
• Large selection of programs for memorizing words.

The last point is not only a plus, but also a problem. There are so many programs with flash cards that it is difficult to choose one. My favorites are Quizlet and Lingualeo.

• - service for working with cards. If you're looking for an electronic alternative to paper cards, Quizlet is a great choice. The program has six modes of learning words, including two games. It is very convenient to create sets of words - both by one card, as well as by copying / pasting a list from a file. Words are automatically voiced.
• . Vocabulary learning is just one of the functions of this versatile service. It is inconvenient to add words manually, but in Lingualeo it is very convenient to save and then learn the words added while reading or watching a video (words can be saved to the dictionary directly from the subtitles). Using the LeoTranslator browser plugin (only works in the Chrome browser), words can be saved to the Lingvaleo dictionary and other sites. Voice, transcription, picture are automatically added to the words.

If you want to compose word sets yourself, it's more convenient to use Quizlet. To memorize words while reading texts on the Internet (on English-language sites), Lingualeo is very convenient - you will need to install the LeoTranslator plugin for the browser.

In what cases does it make sense to learn words from cards?

With the help of flashcards, you can learn a lot of words in a short time, but this is not always necessary. Cards are relevant in the following cases:

• You need to quickly gain a minimum of vocabulary, at least the first 500 words. Without this minimum, it will not be possible to read, listen, talk.
• You have a basic vocabulary, but you need to learn vocabulary on a specific topic, for example, or words written out while reading a book, watching a movie.
• You are preparing for an exam.

Basically, cards are useful for beginners, but if you have a level that allows you to read and listen at least, look, understand at least the general meaning, talk with mistakes and actively gesticulate, then it is better to focus on practice: read more, listen, communicate.

How not to forget the learned words?

Learned information is quickly and inevitably forgotten if it is not used. Even almost clean.

However, forgetting can be minimized:

• Learn the right words. If you are learning words that are not commonly used, they will most likely come across very rarely. First of all, you need to learn.
• Learn words well. With the help of cards, it is better to learn words so that they are recognized instantly, without any movement of the convolutions. If the word is “under-educated”, then you may not recognize it.
• Repeat words. Before starting a new set of words, repeat the previous one - this simple rule will significantly increase the efficiency of your study.
• Practice, practice, practice! Once you've learned a word, it gets into your memory, but it's solidified when you encounter it in reading, listening, or using it in conversation. Without practice in reading, listening, writing and speaking, all your efforts are not only futile, but meaningless. Why learn a language if you don't use it?

Do not learn too many words a day, raising the bar too high. Many without problems memorize 10-20 words in one go. I was able to learn about 50 words in one sitting, and over 200 words during the day. But I noticed that if you move too fast, more words are forgotten, and in general it is difficult to hold out at such a pace for a long time.

How, by combining two methods, to learn words quickly and easily?

• Read the text in English
• Write down unfamiliar words
• Make up sets of cards with these words and memorize them.

A few tips:

• Read only what you are really interested in
• Write down not all unfamiliar words in a row (this way you will quickly lose interest in reading), but only words that are important for understanding the text or words that seem useful.
• Write out not only words, but also phrases, especially useful ones, such as politeness formulas, greetings, etc.

Personally, I did this: if I read a paper book or on the phone, wrote out the words with a pen in a notebook or saved them in notes on the phone, then I created sets of cards and repeated the words. Sometimes I was too lazy, and I didn’t make flashcards, but simply looked through the notes, repeating the written words - even this way helps me remember them. If I read in the browser, I saved the words with the help of “LeoTranslator” and then repeated it with the help of flashcards in Lingvaleo or simply by looking at the list.

You can also combine the two methods with the help of films, series, TV shows in English: watch a movie, writing out interesting words along the way, and then learn them. The big inconvenience is that the film will often have to be paused. In this regard, the service is convenient. It is enough to hover over the subtitles and the film is paused, click on the word - the translation pops up, and the word is saved to the dictionary. There is a minimum of distraction.

Conclusion

Words can be learned quickly, in large numbers, using the “hard way” - with the help of cards and various exercises. This makes sense if you need, for example, to learn words on a specific topic or gain a starting minimum vocabulary. It is important to understand that if you do not read, listen, communicate in English, that is, use a foreign language for its intended purpose, over time, even firmly memorized words will fade from memory.

On the other hand, words can be learned through practice: by reading, listening, speaking in English. Some of the words will settle in the memory simply due to repetition, understanding their meaning from the context. The nuance is that constant and very extensive practice is needed in order to actively replenish vocabulary using this method.

Methods can be combined - many do. Read in English, watch films without translation, and if useful words come across in the process, write them down to clarify the meaning, repeat, learn. Actually, this applies to the native language as well.

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I am an English tutor. For three years of practice, I had a lot of students aged 18 and older. Usually they studied the language from their school years “quite actively” and 90% of them were concerned with the following question: “how to learn English words quickly?”.

My first thought is: “I'm a tutor, not a magician. You have to learn to remember." Whether it's rude or not, I don't care. I know from my own experience: if you don’t work (this applies not only to learning a foreign language), then nothing, nothing will work out at all.

I have a two-step tip that will give you a chance to plant harmful words in your head for quite some time.

Step 1. Learning words

Agree, the concepts of “easy” and “quick” have nothing to do with learning words. But we have to forgive them because if we don't know the words, we are absolutely useless with our grammar, good pronunciation and ability to "catch the basics". Therefore, we pull ourselves together, convince ourselves that without this we can’t go anywhere and start studying.

Here, first, a few words should be said about the sources of vocabulary replenishment. You can memorize words in lists, linking them to some topics or categories. And you can learn words from the context, that is, choose a variety of stories, dialogues, anecdotes as the source of new words. Then the meanings of the words will be tied to the specific situation in which they were used. Then reading, retelling and doing exercises for such texts will already be a kind of practice of their application.

Naturally, there are ways to simplify this hard work a little. Here we are looking for different colorful, bright and inherently magical applications and programs like: “learn 100 words a day”, “5 words in 5 minutes”, “an easy way to learn 5000 words”, etc., etc. . They undoubtedly have a number of advantages, maybe after passing several levels something will remain in memory, but we have one nasty thing - we abandon everything, because the result is not magical.

The problem remains, right? We need to know the words, we cannot clearly express our thoughts. The main advice: well, these synonyms and everything like them in the bath! If you are an ordinary person who plans to communicate with the same ordinary people, you do not need to learn six variants of the word “good”! This is a waste of time and effort. Various: "100 most popular verbs", "250 favorite English words", etc. are your main friends. Not topics, when there are 15 names of diseases in the topic “Hospital”, you use them in your native language 3-4 times in your life, what can we say about a foreign language.

So, we figured out how to learn English words. Now is the time to apply them.

Step 2: Putting What We Learned into Practice

But after you've worked your butt off and learned your 50-100 words from a specific list, you should run headlong and find a way to put them into practice.

Why is it so important? Let you repeat the same word eighty-four times, scroll through your head the same number of times and put it aside with the thoughts that it is “yours”, it will cease to be if you do not use it. If you don't believe me, try it.

Where to find practice? If you are not going to live in a country whose language you are learning, you will have to search a little. I will offer several options.

The first is conversation clubs. People like you go there - those who want to speak English or any other language, depending on which one you learn. Some clubs arrange their meetings so that everyone speaks without fail, usually this is done with the help of various games. And there are clubs in which the order "if you want - say, if you don't want - don't say" reigns. If you have communication problems, it's best to go where you have to speak. If you love strangers and the company of them, then go anywhere. For me personally, the conversation club is the best option. But such clubs are rarely found in small towns or may be located far from you.

Therefore, I propose an alternative - communication on the Web. On the Internet, you need to look for those who want to improve their language skills, and not those who write “pretty” and “sweetie” through the word, inviting guests.

You can go to the screening of films in a foreign language, and after watching this film, discuss it with the others. This option is also good because you very often leave there with two or three interesting phrases or idioms. They are well remembered, because usually before the film there is an analysis of interesting phrases, and then you meet this phrase while watching and concentrate your attention on it.

When there is no way to “get” to living, talking people, such friends come to your aid: series, magazines, books, films, radio, etc.

From all of the above (and this is only a small part of what is), choose close to you - and go! Don't let the learned words run away from you, appropriate them for yourself by putting them into practice.

What gives a good result in memorizing words?

Returning to the contextual memorization of words, online services will help memorize words correctly. For example, our site contains a lot of short stories of different levels of complexity, and exercises are given for each of them. Passing even one lesson a day, you can significantly increase your vocabulary by systematically putting into practice the learned words. For example, after completing a lesson with such a simple comic story, you will remember not only the names of several animals, but also useful phrases on the topic of medicine:

- Doctor, doctor, I "m not feeling very well.
- What's the problem?
- I work like a horse, eat like a bird, and I "m dog-tired.
- You don't need a doctor.

Listen "You need a vet"

Do you need a veterinarian

Doctor, doctor, I don't feel very well.
- What is the problem?
- I work like a horse, eat like a bird, and I'm tired like a dog.
- You don't need a doctor. You need a veterinarian.

Learning English words with online exercises

How to learn English words effectively? Of course, with the help of online exercises. It is easy to follow them, as well as to find out the correct answer. Let's try one of them.

Let's summarize. We learn words wisely, i.e. Don't waste time on rarely used ones. And as we learned, we immediately use it. No matter how, the main thing is to do it. Never let knowledge lie idle.

It would seem that a simple math problem from the fourth grade: if you learn 30-35 English words a day every day, How many English words can you learn in a month and a year?

Of course, you easily calculated: you can learn about a thousand English words in a month and, accordingly, 12,000 words in a year. Interesting, but what does experience and practice say?

As vocabulary is reduced , so are the number of feelings you can express, the number of events you can describe, the number of the things you can identify! Not only understanding is limited, but also experience. Man grows by language. Whenever he limits language he retrogresses!

As vocabulary shrinks, so does the number of feelings you can express, the number of events you can describe, the number of things you can name. Not only understanding is limited, but also experience. Man grows through language. Whenever he restricts language, he goes into decline.

~ Sheri S. Tepper

As practice shows, it is possible to learn something, but it will not work to keep it in an active reserve and use it regularly in speech. Words without practice and associative links are quickly forgotten, which the creators are silent about.

True, you always have a chance memorize a large number of English words- it all depends on the characteristics of memory and techniques for memorizing English words, which we will talk about today.

How to learn a lot of English words quickly

Learning English words is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Signing the names of unfamiliar words is one of the effective methods for remembering.

Want to learn a lot of English words in a short time? The German scientist Ebinghaus found that with mechanical memorization, that is, when a person does not understand the meaning of the material and does not use mnemonics, after an hour only 44% of the information remains in memory, and after a week - less than 25%. Fortunately, with conscious memorization, information is forgotten much more slowly.

First of all, it is necessary to determine how it is easier for you to absorb new information: by ear, by sight or by writing down?

This will not take much time, but will greatly facilitate the learning and selection of effective techniques for you in the future. One of the tests that will help you determine how easy it is for you to remember new information is presented on this site. By answering 30 questions, you can know exactly what type you are.

In short, we recall that visuals easily memorize new words by seeing or reading, audials - by ear, and kinesthetics need to be in motion, for example, write down information on paper.

In the modern world, most people are dominated by a visual type of perception of new information. Remember how long annoying commercials seen on TV, or posters and banners that are full of city streets, are stored in our memory.

You also need to know that there are no 100% visuals or audials. But some channel is still dominant, and it is this channel that should be used if your goal is learn a lot of english words fast.

Visual method of memorizing English words

Characteristics and scheme of perception of information by visuals.

If you have read the novel “Martin Eden” by Jack London, then most likely you remember that the main character learned a huge number of academic words, posting leaflets with new words at home.

visual method for memorizing English words is pasting all the objects that surround you with stickers with new words. How does the visual method work? You constantly come across an abundance of English words, read, memorize and, of course, use English words.

Purchase from the store or make your own cards with new words, translation, transcription, and even an example of use. It is convenient to take such cards with you if you have a long commute to work or constantly disappear in lines. They can be classically made on paper or downloaded to your phone.

On a note:

On the Internet you can find download apps for mobile phones which use a visual way to expand vocabulary. The most popular are Words, Easy Ten and Duolingo: Learn Languages ​​for Free.

Bright pictures with captions, memory simulators, verification tests that use these mobile applications will help you learn a lot of English words in a short time. And most importantly, they are always at hand!

If your level is not beginner (Pre-Intermediate and above), you can watch movies, shows and videos with and without subtitles, writing out not only new words, but also useful colloquial phrases.

English audio tutorials and podcasts

Characteristics and scheme of perception of information by auditory people.

If you belong to a rare category of people (about 10%) who love and remember with their ears, then this method is for you.

The main conditions for vocabulary expansion- constantly listen to English speech, whether at home in the kitchen or in a car in a traffic jam. New words and expressions can be written down and repeated periodically.

With this method, you will not be afraid to listen to speech, and your listening skills will improve.

TPR method for expanding vocabulary

Characteristics and scheme of perception of information by kinesthetics.

The third type of perception of information, which includes kinesthetics, prefers movement to static learning. If you are a kinesthetic learner, don't forget to write down new words on paper. It is better if you have a diary dictionary that you can refer to from time to time.

Often used in teaching children TPR (Total Physical Response) method. But believe me, if you are a kinesthetic learner, this method is also for you: with its help, you can easily learn English words and phrases.

The essence of the method is to memorize new words, phrases and lexical constructions using gestures, command execution, pantomime and games. For example, on the word ball (ball) you need to perform an action associated with this subject, for example, a ball game.

Simple and effective ways to memorize English words

Mnemonics and memorization of English words

A good example of how mnemonics works.

One of the most effective ways to memorize English, and indeed foreign words, is mnemonics. The method of mnemonics (or mnemonics) is based on creating images in your mind. You take the information you need to remember and turn it into an image through association.

First you need to understand that the brain does not remember the images themselves that arise in the head, but links between multiple images. This is very important to remember, because right at the time of memorization, you need to focus on this.

Mnemonics actively develops memory and thinking. The main task is to create images that are connected in the imagination in various ways. The images must be colored, large and detailed.

Learning English words with the help of mnemonics is incredibly easy! We select the most consonant word (or several words) from the native language to the foreign word.

How mnemonics works when memorizing English words, let's look at an example:

puddle ["pʌdl] puddle

Approximate pronunciation (phonetic association) - "bad"

Mnemonic model: "I kept falling and falling into a puddle" .

Examples of using mnemonics in teaching English:

If you are using mnemonics to expand vocabulary, it is important to remember that it is necessary not only to link words together and express them as a sentence, but also to present a specific situation in which this happens or is said.

For example, do not just say: "A nervous person is walking along a narrow alley," but imagine a nervous person, you can know your friend, who walks, looking around and shuddering at every sound, along a narrow dark alley. In this case, you will definitely not forget this foreign word.

On a note:

An association or a bunch of words that has arisen is necessary only for 2-3 repetitions from memory in order to remember a foreign word and its translation. Then it disappears behind uselessness, so you don’t have to worry that any nonsense will be stored in your memory.

Undoubtedly, in order to quickly and efficiently memorize foreign words, you need to practice, find your own approach, learn how to create your own associations, and even quickly. The process of creating associations will be slow at first, but be patient and keep practicing. As a rule, the speed and quality of association creation improves after the first thousands of memorized words.

It remains to be added that with the help of this technique it is possible to memorize words of any foreign language .

Mind halls for expanding vocabulary in English

Many people use flashcards to remember new words, but these flashcards are not always at hand, especially at the right time.

There is a great way to memorize new words and expressions - this is the power of your mind. It is called Method of loci (locus method).

You can also see names such as “mind halls”, “memory palaces”, “method of loci”, “spatial mnemonics”, “method of Cicero”.

When Sherlock Holmes, the world-famous detective, wanted to remember something important, he closed his eyes and plunged into the halls of the mind ( ‘mind palace’). Like Sherlock Holmes, you can also use this Method of loci to memorize new words and expressions. How it looks visually you can see in the video.

Video “The Hound of the Baskervilles” - “mind palaces” by Sherlock Holmes.

How does the locus method work?

We're building an imaginary place imaginary place) in our mind and put things and people there that will help us remember new words. You can store images both on the shelves and randomly. The main thing is that you yourself know where everything is and can quickly remember. The best activators are either completely ridiculous or very logical. It's even better to mix and match.

Remember the simple rules that in no case should be violated in the process of creating a connection:

• Represent images large(even if the items to be remembered are of different sizes, make them the same: be it a ship, a coconut or a bee. Small images should not be presented. Connections between such images will be recorded very poorly.
• The images must be voluminous. For example, holographic images or images created on 3D graphics programs. Such images can be rotated and viewed from different angles.
• Images must be submitted colored. If these are the leaves of trees, then they must be green, the tree itself - brown, etc.
• The images presented must be detailed. If you imagine the image of a “phone”, you need to mentally consider it and clearly see what parts the phone you represent consists of. If it is a cell phone, then you can identify the following images in it: antenna, display, buttons, cover, strap, leather case, battery.

Then we apply the main mental operation in mnemonics - this is "connection of images". Let's look at how this is applied in the practice of learning English words.

Let's say we need to memorize the words associated with the word run, as well as its forms, so we will make up the following story in our minds: the imaginary setting of the city - the imaginary place is a city .

This is just a small example of how to memorize english words, Related run, and its forms. Of course, you can add other phrases with this word, of which there are actually many, and as my imaginary city grows, I can use more and more words, and thereby expand my vocabulary.

More details about memorization technique "memory palace" you can learn more from the video:

Any imaginary place can be, even a room in your house, and you try to come up with a situation that will be close to you, and the words will be remembered much easier.

In this manner easy to learn words on different topics, such as “food”, “kitchen”, “clothing”, etc. Arrange the items however you like, and then it will be easier for you to remember the name of the item by its location in your "memory" palace.

And of course, develop deduction, attention to detail and creativity. Develop associative thinking.

Another tip applies to all "memory palaces", regardless of the purpose of their "construction". If you want to remember something for a long time (and not in the "passed - forgot" mode), you will have to periodically "walk" around the "palace".

Audiolingual Method in English

Automation of skills occurs in the process of training by repeated repetition of speech samples.

Audiolingual method- this is one of the methods of teaching a language, in which it is necessary to repeatedly listen and pronounce words, phrases and sentences, which leads to their automation.

This method has its pros and cons, but will suit mainly auditory speakers, since there is no visual support. The main focus here is on oral speech.

When using the audiolingual method, no explanations are given, since all the proposed material is simply practiced and memorized in the form of set expressions so that students can use them without hesitation in the future.

Training in this case is based on the development of some static models that students cannot change at all or almost at all. In this respect, this teaching method is the direct opposite of the communicative method.

let's consider positive and negative sides audiolingual method.

Tips on how to improve your English vocabulary?

By knowing many words, you will be able to express yourself in many different ways.

To replenish vocabulary, first of all, you need to systematically and regularly, preferably every day. There are many ways and they all work.

Choose the one that suits you best, and you can easily improve your English vocabulary. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Expand your English vocabulary with lists

Words surround us. Just looking up words in a dictionary may not be as interesting or exciting. Pay attention to English words around you - during TV shows and programs in English, reading the news - everywhere, at any time.

Important!

Regardless of whether you do it or not, we recommend that you write down what part of speech this or that word is (verb, noun, adjective), as well as the derivatives of this word. For example, "fish" - fishing, fishy, ​​fisherman, etc. It will also be helpful if you add sentences with examples of these words.

You can also use the notepad on your mobile phone. As soon as you hear an unfamiliar word, write it down. Make sure you have enough free space around it to make appropriate notes.

When you have free time, write down its meaning or translation, and possibly the context in which it can be used.

Learn English words by practice

As you make word lists, it is very easy to forget the words that were at the very beginning. All words are required use in your speech. The more we use them, the better we remember them.

Reread your lists, for example, at the end of each week. How well do you remember old words?

If any words are hard to remember, but they are very common, it is likely that you will meet them in the future. Therefore, add them again to new lists and over time you will remember them.

Games will help memorize English words

Scrabble is an effective way to learn English words and have fun with family and friends.

Who said learning new words is not fun?! Games like Scrabble or Vocabador offer great ways to learn new words .

Games are a great way to learn, not only because they're fun, but also because they give you context for new words. Believe me, you will very quickly remember the word that your friend was laughing at.

We also want to draw your attention to the free game Free Rice. This game gives you a word, and you need to find the right definition for it. If you answer incorrectly, the next word will become easier. If it's correct, it's harder.

By playing this game, you not only improve your vocabulary but also help the world in the fight against hunger. How? Try to play it!

Increase English vocabulary with context

As mentioned earlier, it's better (and easier) memorize new words in context. One way is to write a sentence with this word. You will not only memorize this word, but you can easily use it in a conversation.

Another way - memorize words in groups. If you want to remember a word humongous (very large), it will be easier for you to remember it from a chain of words: getting bigger and bigger-large, huge, humongous. It also makes it possible to memorize more words at a time.

For example, large, humongous, gargantuan. What do you think the word means gargantuan?

Dictionaries and social networks for memorizing words

Of course, you can look up an unfamiliar word in the dictionary! Especially since modern online dictionaries offer many additional options.

Many online dictionaries have interesting articles, games, and also a word of the day section.

And if you feel confident that you can read literature in the original language, check out the article.

Sites for learning English words

Below you will find best sites to increase and practice vocabulary which can be of maximum benefit to you.

Business English Site

BusinessEnglishSite - site for learning business vocabulary

This is one of the best and most popular sites to study. Here you can fill up the vocabulary with useful phrases, expressions and even business jargon.

All words are divided into topics, for example, "Accounting", "Project Management", "IT" etc.

For each topic there are exercises to consolidate, which train not only vocabulary, but also grammar.

Blair English

With Blair English you can learn English words from scratch

All exercises and lessons on this site have been specially designed to increase and enrich your English vocabulary .

Here you will find over 190 free interactive exercises on various topics such as IT-technology, Business, Communication and many others.

Also on the site there is a database of exercises to improve listening and pronunciation skills.

Lingualeo

Lingualeo - word practice resource

A very famous interactive resource that is interesting not only for children. It helps make language learning fun and visual, and also contains unlimited number of words for different levels.

To feed the lion cub and get a new portion of words, registration is required.

british council

British Council - The most British way to learn words

The British Council website has not left us without the practice of truly British phrases, idioms and expressions. You can also learn a few new words a day there.

Words filtered out by topic and level, which makes navigation extremely convenient, and the process of cramming English words - an exciting experience.

For teachers, there are lesson plans for various levels with handouts.

Test Your Vocabulary

On this site, you can not with 100% probability, but at least approximately understand what kind of vocabulary you have and what you need to improve.

The test interface in English is simple. The site is designed for users who study English or even are native speakers.

By ticking the words you know the translation of and answering a few questions about yourself, you will very likely know how many english words is in your active supply.

Instead of a conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of methods and resources to enrich your vocabulary in various areas. The most important thing is to constantly work on it, and here everything depends on you. The daily work will then pay off in full when you communicate with English speakers without any problems.

In contact with

Top 8 apps to memorize English words

Applications for learning English words help you quickly and effectively replenish your vocabulary. Without work on learning new vocabulary, words can simply be forgotten or remain in the passive vocabulary, so it is extremely important not only to find out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, but also to make an effort to remember it.

Vocabulary Trainer (10.000 words and phrases)

A great app that takes into account your level of English and how much time you are willing to devote to training. First you need to fill in information about yourself so that the application creates a training plan for you: level, why you are learning the language, how long you can study. There are two modes here: advanced learning (for memorizing words) and a quiz (for repeating them). The second mode allows you to test yourself and fix the words in memory. I was pleased that you can add not only words from the application, but also create your own list of words. This is very convenient if you prefer to learn words from books, movies, etc. In the settings, you can change the speed to a more convenient one for you. To begin with, you are given a list of words, and then exercises to memorize them. At the same time, in one “set” the exercises are diverse: enter a word after listening, select a picture for a word, enter a word by letter, etc.

In the main menu, you can choose to create your own list, read the news, study words in your sleep, watch your record, and even listen to the radio in English.

Academic plan Application menu

English Vocabulary Trainer

The application offers to learn about 5,000 English words that are used most often. Suitable for beginners and users with an intermediate level of knowledge. It will also be useful for students who speak English at a high level, but who have problems with "spelling".

To begin with, you should choose the level of difficulty of the classes: Easy - corresponds to the level of beginners, Medium - below average, Difficult - a solid average level. You can select all three levels at once, then simple words will alternate with more complex ones. It also offers to choose which parts of speech you want to learn, you can leave the automatic settings to work on learning all parts of speech. In the settings, you can edit the initially selected data, as well as change the pronunciation speed. Slow playback is automatically selected, it is better to speed it up a little.
To start, press the "play" button located in the center of the screen, and then the exact same button below the list of words. By the way, the words in the application will be divided into several lists, depending on whether you know them. For example, words that you could not translate during the training will be listed as "difficult", so you do not have to look for unfamiliar words for a long time to repeat. In addition to choosing a translation for words, it is possible to train by choosing antonyms and synonyms for words.

UVocab

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zenapps.zenvocabbuilderfree&hl=ru

A great simulator for creating flashcards with words and learning them. After downloading, three modes will be available to you.

Learn
In this mode, you select the words to study. By clicking on the planet icon, you can select any of the suggested dictionaries to search for a word. A huge plus is that you can search for words that you really need, and not those that the application suggests. Searching through dictionaries allows you to see all the meanings of words and examples of their use, so this will not be empty cramming without understanding the context.

test
This is the training mode itself. Here you can choose a test where you can work on a specific list of words, for example, work on words that you did not remember the previous time, or on words from the “favorite words” list. Also in this mode, you can choose word-match training, where the words are divided into two columns, and you need to select synonyms from the second column for the first words. You can follow your progress in the statistics.

revision
Here you can create flash cards, view "favorite" words, as well as words that you could not remember.

Oxford English Vocabulary Trainer

The developers position this application as an excellent vocabulary learning simulator for those who are preparing for international exams, as well as for people who work in an English-speaking environment. That is, this application is suitable for those who are seriously engaged in English and have a level not lower than the average.

To get started, you need to log in via Facebook, mail or create an account. Then you need to select your native language, press "start" and wait a bit for the content to load . Further, it is proposed to choose one of two: studying according to the Oxford coursebook or working on a common vocabulary. Having chosen the first option, you need to choose a textbook for yourself. For example, choose one of the business English books. You can simply view the list of suggested vocabulary or select the training mode. It is possible to create lists of your own words. When choosing "general vocabulary", you will also be offered a list of books: academic vocabulary, business keywords, the most necessary English words and vocabulary by topic (for beginners and advanced levels).

In the settings, you can change the audio pronunciation: British or American, select the mode for translating words or their interpretation, set a reminder of when you would like to start training, and also select the “dynamics” of classes.

In general, the application is perfect for those who have at least an average level of knowledge and have a clearly defined goal in learning English.

Vocabulary Trainer

There are no ready-made word lists in this application, so you will have to fill it out yourself. You can create as many lists as you want and then work on each one. In the first column you can write down the word itself, and in the second - its translation or interpretation. Then you can choose the mode of working on the words to memorize them as soon as possible. When you select Trainer, you will be given a word and you must remember its meaning, or you can look at the hint and check the correctness of the answer by clicking on the question mark. If you can't remember the translation right away, it's best to think a little before looking up the answer. The other two workouts are connecting words with their meanings. In the match training mode, the application does not read the Cyrillic alphabet, therefore, if possible, it is better to write down the interpretation of the word in English or a synonym for it.

Color Verbs

Super app for learning and repeating irregular verbs. After choosing a language, you are given a list of irregular verbs, under each word its meaning is written. If you want to see more detailed information about a verb, just click on it. You will see a word with a bright picture to it, which will help memorization, a synonym and / or interpretation, and an example of use in a sentence will be given. A transcription is also given for each form of the verb and an example of pronunciation in audio format. In the "Practice" section, you can select the verbs that you want to learn or repeat. You can check yourself by selecting the "Exam" mode. Here you need to choose your level, after which the program will select words for you. You will be given a definition of the word, but your task is to enter all three forms of the described verb.

Phrasal Verbs Dictionary

English is nowhere without phrasal verbs, so it is very important to learn them, and most importantly, not to get confused in them. This great app will help you learn them. It is suitable for those who speak English at least at an intermediate level. Here you can choose the flashcard learning mode or the game learning mode. The cards offer you a huge number of lessons, each of which includes a portion of verbs, each comes with an explanation in English, an example of use and pronunciation. Then each completed lesson can be fixed in the game mode. The application has a very cool mini-game where you not only need to know the meaning of phrasal verbs, but also be able to quickly navigate, otherwise you will lose and have to start all over again. Despite the fact that the toy is quite simple, you can “stick” on it and learn verbs faster.

Business English words

This application is specifically for those who study English for communication in a business environment, for taking courses, as well as reading professional literature. To get started, you are invited to select a section: business deals, business people, banking, etc. After selecting a section, you will see a list of words, each of which has an explanation and an example of pronunciation. In order to select a word to study, simply put a "bird" under it. To view examples of usage, click on a term. To practice words, go to the main menu and select "testing".

The great advantage of English vocabulary learning apps is that you can study for a few minutes a day, anywhere. For example, you can spend 10 minutes reviewing new words in public transport or during a break at work. We hope you find this collection helpful. We wish you to reach new heights :).

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