How to create a glossary to learn English more effectively

Posted date 13/06/2016

4.699 view

Posted date 13/06/2016

4.699 view

In English communication, there are many topics for you to build your vocabulary. For each topic, you only need to create a glossary of 20-40 commonly used words, close to the given topic, which is enough to enrich the vocabulary used in your writing or speaking test.

MSc. Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang - Faculty of Foreign Languages

For those of you who are learning English or any foreign language, making a vocabulary table is a great and effective way to learn.
In English communication, there are many topics for you to build your vocabulary. For each topic, you only need to create a glossary of 20-40 commonly used words, close to the given topic , which is enough to enrich the vocabulary used in your writing or speaking test. The steps you should do are as follows:
Step 1:
You need to create a vocabulary notebook with 4 columns, the first column is the Vietnamese meaning of the word, the second column is the English meaning , the third column is the phonetic meaning to learn a word, read it correctly and the fourth column is an example of that word.

For example:

Transportation
Vietnamese Meaning	English Meaning	Phonetic	Example
Crossroads	Crossroads= intersection	/,intə'sekʃn/	She needs to cross the intersection to get to the office
One way street
Two-way street
Pedestrian
Traffic police
Traffic light

Step 2:

Think of all the words related to the topic you think of, of course they must be new words, and should be diverse in word types including nouns, verbs and adjectives . How? Basically, those are all topics that are very familiar to you, so to find 20-40 new words, you just need to search your memory about that topic, from there pull out a bunch of new words from your memory.
Step 3:
Complete columns 2 and 3 using a dictionary.
You can use LacViet Student or Oxford dictionary to look up words.
Step 4:
Start learning new words through topics that interest you.
Below are some topics that you often encounter, let's build your own vocabulary table.

Topic: Travel and landscape
Stand at the front desk: stand at the front desk
Take suitcases from a vehicle: take luggage from a vehicle
Sit in a lobby: sit in a lobby
Move luggage/baggage: move luggage
Pack> Load suitcases into a bus: put luggage on a bus
Play musical instruments: play musical instruments
Take a photograph/picture: take a photo
Admire/look at a painting: see, enjoy a painting
Rest outdoors: rest and relax outdoors
Walk along the path: walk along the path
Take a boat ride/Row a boat: take a boat ride/Row a boat
Be tied up at the dock: be tied up at the dock
Along the shore: along the shore
Pass under the bridge: Pass under the bridge
Subject: Stationery

1. Paper clips – paper clips
2. Stapler – stapler
3. Highlighter – highlighter pen
4. Correction pen – Correction pen
5. Adhesive tape – Adhesive tape
6. Calculator – Pocket calculator
7. Marker – Whiteboard pen
8. Telephone – landline phone
9. Computer
10. Envelope – envelope
11. File cabinet – document cabinet
12. Printer
13. Photocopier – photocopier
14. Projector

You can also learn new words through mindmaps - This is a great and creative way of learning that combines theory and images, so it will create an impression and remember words longer. If you cannot create a mindmap for yourself, you can download available ones online, combine them with your own glossary to further develop your vocabulary.

Description: learning-tu-vung-through-mindmap

Mindmap is an effective method of learning new words for students.

Above are effective ways to learn English vocabulary, however, each person chooses a suitable way to learn and feels interested in that way. English will become easier if we choose a suitable learning method. Remember, study regularly and do not skip intervals, then we will succeed, speak, listen, and write English fluently. Good luck!

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