Vocabulary improvement is a life-long process. If you’re a parent, it’s important that you help your children with their vocabulary skills, because the earlier they start focusing on improving and expanding their vocabulary, the easier it will be for them to build on those skills and succeed in school. If you’re a student, taking the time to increase your knowledge of English vocabulary will help you understand the materials you need to read in whatever class and discipline you choose, and knowing the meaning of all of the words in an examination question will certainly improve your chances of getting the correct answer. If you’re in the workforce, keeping up with the vocabulary and terminology in your professional field will keep you in line for promotions and advancement, and even after you retire, studying new words will keep your brain nimble and your intellect sharp.
It’s especially important for adults in the workplace to have a thorough knowledge of the English language, and excellent literacy skills. Employers place a high value on literate employees with the ability to read, write, and communicate at an advanced level, because it means that the time required to train for a new job or a change in procedure is greatly shortened, saving the employer money. In addition, someone with good communication skills might be asked to train their co-workers – something that is often the first step towards a management position.
Efficiency, cost savings, and productivity are all increased by a highly literate workforce in any field. However, it’s particularly important for employees who work in or with technology, because of the rapid developments in systems and applications.
“One of the difficulties experienced by some companies in upgrading the skills of their employees is the complexity of job-related technical documents and training materials required for learning new systems. The technical vocabulary and complex concepts require high-level reading skills that may be beyond the capabilities of many employees.” – Adult Literacy and New Technologies: Tools for a Lifetime, Office of Technology Assessment, 1993
In general, a higher literacy rate correlates with a greater success in a person’s work and family life, and a skilled and literate adult has a direct impact on the children in that adult’s life.
“[T]hose with poor skills experienced much higher levels of social and economic disadvantage than other adults … The report shows the association between poor educational achievement and its impact on all areas of life, including employment, health, community participation and family life. – Bynner, J. and Parsons, S. (2006). New Light on Literacy and Numeracy. London: National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy
It’s to your benefit to study vocabulary and improve your language skills, especially by increasing the amount and variety of your reading material. You’ll enjoy greater success at work, and find yourself more comfortable in any social situation, as you’ll have the ability to hold a conversation on many topics, using the knowledge you’ve gained through reading.
Has your vocabulary study led to professional success? Tell us your story in the comments!
