| help on memorizing vocabulary more effectively |
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There is some research to support the idea that memorizing related
words, especially opposites, at the same time, is more effective than
memorizing words randomly.
For example, learn big and small, open and closed, clean and dirty,
same and different, before and after, freeze and thaw, work, play, and
rest, buy, sell, and pay, read and write, full and empty, etc. at the
same time.
Learn spring, summer, fall, and winter at the same time.
Learn see, hear, smell, taste, and feel at the same time.
There is also evidence that learning begins with a knowledge of "intermediate-level" concepts representing ordinary objects (
chair, table) and proceeds up the hierarchy (to
furniture) and down the hierarchy (to
legs of a chair, or
arms of a chair) later.
Learning groups of words that are related through derivation might also
be useful, but for some students it is a source of confusion, so you
need to be careful about that. (
institution, constitution, restitution)
Memorizing vocabulary is probably not a good idea, however, if by
memorization you mean sitting down to a list of 100 words and deciding
that at the end of the day you will be able to produce translations of
each in your native language. You have to use a word in a
meaningful way in writing and/or spontaneous conversation about 400
times before its "yours"! So be patient!
CJ