Monthly Archives: June 2010

Learning English Vocabulary: Six Steps to Success (Part 2)

Yesterday we talked about the first three steps to success: 1. Read, read, read! 2. Write down your target words. 3. Practice the tests you’re studying for. It’s easy to give these directions, but sometimes harder to find the best … Continue reading…

Learning English Vocabulary: Six Steps to Success

1. Read everything you can find to read. Newspapers. Magazines. On-line articles. Novels, short stories, plays, poems – if the title to something catches your eye, pick it up and give it a try. Select non-fiction works in fields that … Continue reading…

Movie Night! Having Fun With Vocabulary Study

After all of the hard work you’re putting in on your daily vocabulary study and review, it’s time to get some popcorn and a soda and relax by watching a good movie. Here are two movies we like, about people … Continue reading…

Summer Vocabulary Study Tips

It’s summer – in the northern hemisphere, at least – and for many people classes are over, vacations are planned, and there will be picnics at the beach and in the park. But even if more relaxation is on the … Continue reading…

Word of the Day: Utilitarian

English is full of specific, descriptive words that you can use to enrich your conversation or add interest to a presentation at work or at school. The more words you know, the more confident you’ll feel having a conversation with … Continue reading…

Hungry for Homonyms: How to Add Flavor to Your Conversations

English is a rich language that has an abundance of words that you can use to add interest and spice to your conversations and presentations. As in many languages, it’s not uncommon for one word to have several meanings, depending … Continue reading…

New Words in the Oxford English Dictionary

When does a word become part of English vocabulary? You could argue that the first time anyone invents a new word and uses it, it has become part of the vocabulary, because it exists, but if no one else knows … Continue reading…

Recommended Reference Books for Vocabulary Study

Yesterday we talked about some of the online resources you can use for vocabulary study and practice; today we’ll review a few hard-copy paper books that are useful references, and which should be available in your local library. Whether you’re … Continue reading…

Building Vocabulary Skills: Online Resources

If you’re like most people with easy access to a computer and the internet, you probably spend a few hours each day surfing the web, checking out the latest sports results, news feeds, or celebrity gossip line. Instead, put some … Continue reading…

Vocabulary Study: Working With Confusing Words

The English language is notorious for having many pairs of words that are very similar in spelling (though not necessarily in pronunciation) but very different in meaning. It’s worth your efforts to spend some time looking at those confusing pairs, … Continue reading…