The work you’re doing to improve your English vocabulary will also improve your ability to communicate, give presentations, and prepare documentation. As a result, you’ll see a remarkable transformation in your career.

The word metamorphosis means “transformation.” The word comes from the Greek roots meta (“change”) and morphe (“shape”). The Greek god Morpheus was the god of dreams, which is not surprising; in your dreams, things frequently have a different appearance than they do in reality. In our 21st-century mythology, you might recognize Morpheus as one of the characters in the science-fiction movie The Matrix who moves in and out of a dream-world of virtual reality. The character of Morpheus was based on a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, titled The Sandman, which is another name for the fairy-tale character who helps little children fall asleep.

One fictional character who fell asleep and woke up completely transformed is Gregor Samsa, who in Franz Kafka’s story Die Verwandlung (“The Metamorphosis”) becomes a giant insect and has to deal with his new life and how it affects his family. While this bizarre occurrence isn’t part of real life, the transformation that occurs when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, or a tadpole becomes a frog, is just as extreme. Another real-life biological transformation occurs during evolution, a synonym for metamorphosis.

Not all metamorphoses (note the spelling of the plural form, going from -is to -es) are sudden or shocking. Changes can happen gradually over time, so subtly that people may not notice right away. If you’re spending 10 to 15 minutes every day on your English vocabulary study (which is the minimum we recommend for daily practice) your co-workers might not realize how much you’re improving your vocabulary skills if you’re only having casual conversations with them. However, when you’re selected to create the department’s procedure documentation manuals, or to give a presentation at the company meeting, they’ll definitely notice your new ability to spread your wings and fly high (or if you prefer a frog metaphor, to “hop ahead of the competition”).

Vocabulary study can truly change your life!