How to improve your English vocabulary: 3 ways to expand your vocabulary for good

How to improve your English vocabulary for good

Have you ever noticed that some of your colleagues or friends use the same few words over and over again when they speak English? I’m sure you have. The thing is that the same may happen to you too, without even realising it.

You see, when you speak, more so in a language other than your native one, like English, you barely analyse what comes out of your mouth. Your brain focuses on putting the words and sentences together while picking up any cues from the people you talk to.

Speaking a language involves so many mental processes and uses such a wide variety of resources that you usually never realise if you make mistakes, how you sound or if you use the same few words over and over again.

This is why it’s essential to make boosting your vocabulary an absolute priority.

Why it’s essential to improve your vocabulary

Well, I cannot stress it enough that boosting your vocabulary is NOT about using fancy words. I would suggest it’s more about selecting and using the right words to get your message across, more so in a language different from your native one.

Boosting your vocabulary (I will explain below what I mean by that) helps you make a good first impression at meetings or calls (over the phone or the internet). This happens because choosing the best words from a rich word pool stored in your brain helps you communicate clearly and precisely.

For example, see how I used the previously mentioned words “clearly” and “precisely” in the previous sentence. You may think they mean the same, but they don’t. One complements the other, and using both of them helped me convey my message more effectively.

A rich vocabulary also helps with your writing skills that are essential in today’s world. Emails and instant messaging on platforms like Skype or Slack are part of every professional’s everyday life at work. Using the most appropriate words in writing can facilitate communication and work with your colleagues or boss. Also, there can be fewer misunderstandings that may cause problems.

Last but not least, having a rich vocabulary in place and improving it consistently helps you speak English more naturally and confidently. You don’t struggle to find the right word for what you intend to say. You sound more professional and can focus more on the interaction than the linguistic part of the conversation (how to speak your mind and which words to use).

Increase or refine your vocabulary?

When it comes to the art of word choice (because indeed it is an art -and science, I’d dare say), your brain performs a specific line of tasks: accessing your vocabulary storage, recalling words, putting them to use in the right format.

So, if you feel your vocabulary is weak and you need to improve it, first, you need to ask yourself these two fundamental questions:

Is my vocabulary rich enough, or do I have to increase it (i.e. learn new words)?
Do I have to increase my vocabulary, or does refining suffices?

In either case, the solution is the same, more or less. To improve and refine your vocabulary bank. However, the ways to do it and the steps to follow may be slightly different to make your life easier and reach your vocabulary goals faster

How you learn to USE new words

If you notice, the words I used in the title above have been carefully selected.

It is essential to understand that

learning new words and using new words are two completely different things

Learning new words is about putting new words in the “storage room” of your brain. Memorising words from lists can do this work.

However, if you really want to boost your English language skills by improving your vocabulary, you must focus on learning to USE new words.

The latter is something much more effective and efficient than the former.

This is why I don’t recommend using pure memorisation to boost your English vocabulary. Stay with me as I will show you the ways to do it further below.

The two fundamental principles to guide your vocabulary building efforts

Before I jump to the tips and tricks I promised, let me say one thing loud and clear: building and improving your vocabulary is a long process, a never-ending one, I dare say.

As you grow older and your needs at work change (for example, because you got a promotion and the nature of your job has changed or you changed careers), you will need to adapt and refine your vocabulary.

However, there are two essential principles you always need to keep in mind and let them guide your efforts:

1. Read and listen a lot. Reading is the best sustainable way to keep your vocabulary always up to date. You can read whatever you like, but I recommend you adapt your reading to your professional needs for English.

For example, if you are in the HR function and interact with people a lot, reading books about HR or psychology could help you boost the vocabulary you NEED substantially.

Listening to English also helps a lot with increasing your vocabulary. Listen to songs in English, watch videos and movies with subtitles (for instance, Netflix allows you to have English subtitles). This way, you can learn quite a few new words in a fun way every time.

2. Use it or lose it. Regardless of how you learned those new words, they will soon fade away if you don’t use them regularly. It’s human nature and how the brain processes, stores, and retains information (like new vocabulary). I have some handy tips about how to do it effectively. In any case, though, using what you learn is essential if you want your investment (time and energy) to have a high return.

3 ways to boost your vocabulary for good

As I mentioned before, vocabulary building is not a one-off task Rather, it is a continuous effort to learn new words and how to use them and actually use them, so they become part of your language.

It takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. The tips I gathered for you are tried and tested by many of my clients, and I have seen them work many times.

Most of all, the ways I suggest below help you create a new skill: vocabulary boosting. It’s a skill (and mindset) you acquire once but can guide you forever.

#1 Learn new words in context

Memorising words that are unrelated, from lists, is one path many professionals (language coaches, too) follow. This path usually leads to poor results.

Another approach that has proven to be much more effective and efficient is to build new vocabulary in context. Instead of learning new words only to forget them in a while, you learn new words by putting them into a broader picture. There are several ways to do it.

If you want to look up words in a dictionary, opt for an English to English one (you find the word you are looking for and next to it is its definition and probably an example sentence or two). This way, not only do you learn exactly what the new word means and how to use it, but you may also learn a couple more words from the definition. These are all related words that can create better connections in your brain.

You can also use flashcards in a more creative way. Instead of writing only the words and their meaning, you can also add a very descriptive example sentence to know how this word works in context.

Another way is to learn new words with stories or written texts about a specific subject. For example, if you want to boost your vocabulary for Human Resources, reading a couple of English job posts will help you learn new words to use in your own job posts to attract the best talent. Or if you are into finance, read an article from the Financial Times every day.

#2 Visualise and make personal and emotional connections

We all know that stories are very engaging and impactful. If you narrate a story at a meeting (like a case study or a past example of how a project worked), your audience will immerse in what you say, and you will be able to get your message across.

It works the same way with vocabulary and your brain. Treat your brain as your audience and create stories to associate new words and expressions.

Whenever you come across new words or expressions you wish to learn and use, put them in a story by visualising them. Add people you know or love to the story to make it personal. You can also add places (like your office or a holiday destination) or even associate new words with past events that have touched you (like your marriage or graduation).

All these associations create strong bonds and connections that help you recall and retain the new vocabulary in the long run.

#3 Repetition makes perfect

Science has shown that the brain works with specific patterns when it comes to learning new things, like new vocabulary.

To make it work to your advantage, go with this flow. Repetition can truly skyrocket your ability to learn how to use the new words you come across.

There is a whole science behind Spaced Repetition and how it can help you remember the new words you learn. Most of the language apps (like Duolingo or Babbel) now use this science to make it work.

Similarly to the “learning curve”, there is also a “forgetting curve” for learning things, like new words. The longer we don’t review them or use them, the shorter the forgetting curve. Repetition makes perfect.

Although I don’t suggest memorising from word lists, especially at the beginning, I suggest creating lists of words or packs of flashcards that you review regularly.

You can have three lists or packs. The first one can be with the words or expressions you feel you know 100% (you know what they mean and how to use them in a sentence).

The second one can be with those you are not 100% sure what they mean or how to use them. Perhaps, you have seen or heard them quite a few times in the past and know where they can be used, but you’re not confident to reply if someone asks you, “What does this word mean?”.

The third list can be with the words you have just come across or learned by looking them up in a dictionary or thesaurus.

See it as a game. Your goal is to move as many words or cards from the third list to the second and then the first one. This is also how your brain works with new vocabulary and where spaced repetition comes into play.

The chances are that if you review a word more than 4 or 5 times, it will stay in your long-term memory forever.

DO’s & DON’Ts

Don’t memorise words from lists you find on the internet or elsewhere. It won’t work in the long run because you won’t know the context you can use these words.
Make it fun as much as you can. Be it the things you read or the word games you choose. Having a little bit of fun while working on your vocabulary will help you be more committed to it.
Don’t try to learn the roots of words (unless you are a language enthusiast like me and can spare time for that). It’s time-consuming and may shift your focus from English to another language (like Latin or Greek). It may work for some, but for most, it can be a waste of energy and time.
Make learning how to use new words a daily habit. You don’t need to spend hours every day, only15 minutes a day or while you are in the metro or a queue suffice. Consider this: only one new word every day means you will learn 365 new words in a year. Do the maths!
Find a way you can associate or group words together to improve your vocabulary. There is no one-size-fits-all, and every brain works in its own unique way, so take advantage of that. Some associate words with objects or sounds. Others find it easier to group similar words together based on a theme or a common factor. Be creative!

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Boosting or refining your vocabulary is a long-term process. It can be fun, but you also need to see it as an investment that can have a very high ROI, in the long run. In any case, remember you need to tailor the way you learn new words based on your needs (if you need specific job-related vocabulary or general) and resources (like time) to help you reach your linguistic and professional goals faster.

Here at ProEnglish, this is my end goal. To empower non-native, highly-skilled professionals like you to claim what they deserve in their career by breaking down the language blockage in a safe, kind and trustful environment.

I am Vera Daskalaki, your mindful English coach. You, being here and reading this, really means a lot to me. Let me know if anything above hit a nerve, and feel free to send me any questions.

If you want to talk about your personal goals with speaking English and create a customised plan, just like we did with Marta, book a free discovery call by clicking below.

It’s a free 30-min call. No commitment, no obligation. We can talk about your challenges and needs for business English and lay out a path to achieve your goals. No catch. Let’s talk and take it from there.