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How do you learn words? | ||
Tags: Vocabulary learning | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies |  | |
| justberta Diglot Senior Member Norway Joined 5577 days ago 140 posts - 170 votes  Speaks: English, Norwegian* Studies: Indonesian, German, Spanish, Russian | Message 17 of 19 09 December 2010 at 10:22pm | IP Logged | ||
I'm almost sorry to say this, but you make me laugh. 1. I only learn words I need. At the beginning of a language, there are certain words you need. After a few languages you will know which ones they are. You will stumble upon them as a local is trying to explain something to you, or while reading a sign. You don't find or choose them, they choose you. 2. No break whatsoever. The sounds/patterns/sentiments of one language is completely different to that of another (Of the 6 I know). I actually mix them up on purpose. Making lists consisting of 6 words with the same meaning sometimes. 3. I speak them out loud, to myself and write them down. Perfect pronunciation is key. Without it don't bother learning vocabulary. Some words are repeated often by locals, on TV, on a sign etc. I have never looked them up in a dictionary, yet I know their meaning. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| garyb Triglot Senior Member ScotlandRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5199 days ago 1468 posts - 2413 votes Speaks: English*, Italian, French Studies: Spanish | Message 18 of 19 10 December 2010 at 12:31pm | IP Logged | ||
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I gave up Anki about a month ago as I felt that it wasn't really making me any better at French, it was just making me better at recalling French words given the English word, or vice versa, which is quite different from actually speaking or even reading in the language. There were many words that I'd recall within a split second on Anki but just wouldn't come to me when I was in a real conversation. Now I just learn things through context while reading/writing/listening/speaking (and re-reading and re-listening the materials where I originally came across the word/phrase). I remember words and phrases far better when they're in context. I tried the "sentences instead of words in Anki" thing and that made the game of recall-the-word easier but it still didn't contribute much to my real-life language skills. I figure that the 10 or 15 minutes per day that I used to spend on Anki is far better spent on getting exposure to the language in a real context (whether it be that of native materials or that of learning materials like Assimil).
When I come across a new word or phrase I usually try to guess its meaning from the context or similar words or similar English words. For example if I see "s'enfermer", I already know fermer = "to close" and en = "in", so s'enfermer = "in-close oneself" = "to lock/shut oneself in", and the context might be "il s'enferme dans sa chambre" (he ______ himself in his room). Then I verify that with a dictionary. Sometimes once is enough but sometimes I'll have to come across the word one or two more times and do the same thing before it sticks. Which is the same principle as SRS really, but it's in a proper context. Edited by garyb on 10 December 2010 at 1:42pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Oasis88 Senior Member Australia Joined 5697 days ago 160 posts - 187 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Italian | Message 19 of 19 13 December 2010 at 1:44pm | IP Logged | ||
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Great post Gary.
I've been having some misgivings with the usefulness of Anki lately and a lot of my thoughts are in line with what you have to say. I like to consider each chunk of text that I read -- whether it be an article, chapter, poem, etc -- as an individual Anki "deck". The first time I read the text is similar to adding the words and each subsequent reading gives me the opportunity to review the words; not to mention the countless "reputations" completed when one comes across the same words in any other text. It seems a far more efficient way of doing things to me. I could see Anki being used if you wanted to memorise days of the week, numbers, months, seasons, colours, etc at the beginning of your studies. After this period, I think it's important to get into the real stuff as soon as possible. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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