The four key principles of a language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The one thing that ties all four of those together to make those tasks possible is having a vast vocabulary in your new language. So how do you learn foreign language vocabulary? Or better yet, how do you learn vocabulary fast?
In this blog post, I cover the keys to efficient vocabulary learning and three ways you can better learn vocabulary.
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What’s the Best Way to Learn Vocabulary?
I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s really no set “best way” to learn foreign vocabulary words. What works great for me might be hell for you, and vise versa.
But wait! Before leaving, there are two things that are *key* to learning vocabulary fast and efficiently: exposure and production.
- Exposure: You need to be exposed to new words or you won’t know they’re out there! You can’t know what you don’t know.
- Production: You need to produce in your target language to realize what words you need to know to discuss what matters to you. Producing is also important for ensuring you know how to use vocabulary words in practice.
Exposure and production are both key to learning new vocabulary words fast and efficiently.
3 Ways to Learn Vocabulary Fast and Improve your Vocabulary in a Foreign Language
1. Using digital foreign language flashcards
This first tip is tied to exposure. Seeing new words on a flashcard and then translating it is a great way to expose you to a variety of words.
I was against using flashcards for a long time.
I thought that I was special, and could learn a new language relying solely on context and chance. Needless to say, I struggled to remember many of the words duolingo taught me for a while.
Using flash cards to learn new vocabulary has been a game changer for me.
What are Digital Flashcards and Why You Should Use Them
Digital flashcards are digital versions of paper flashcards. Anki and Quizlet are two popular digital flashcard apps. I love Anki, but I know there are people who love Quizlet, too.
The two benefits of using digital flashcards are that you don’t have to carry hundreds of paper flashcards with you, and spaced repetition studying.
Anki in particular uses spaced repetition, which optimizes your study time.
For example, if I answer the card correctly, it shows it to me again tomorrow, and if I get that right, it won’t show it to me again for another couple of days, and so on.
If I answer wrong, it’ll show me the word again in 10 minutes, and then again tomorrow to really cement it into my memory.
I’ve found it a great way to keep up on lots of vocab without having to do the manual work of figuring out which words I need to study when.
Quick tip: Instead of using your first language for the answer, use a picture or the definition of the vocab word in your target language instead. Taking your first language out of the equation altogether makes it easier to think in your target language!
This isn’t the only way to learn vocabulary, but it’s a nice way to make sure you don’t forget any of the words you’ll pick up using the other methods mentioned below.
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2. Reading
Reading also helps with exposure, but in a different way than flashcards. While flashcards help expose you to words you came across once and need to cement into your memory, reading brings new words you didn’t know existed into the equation.
The 2 types of reading: extensive and intensive
Intensive Reading
When you’re reading a textbook, you’re likely reading intensively. You’re urged to understand every word in the text, and once you understand everything you can move on.
Since this is more labor intensive, this works well with shorter texts.
Extensive Reading
Extensive reading is when you’re not reading for 100% understanding. You’re able to read more than if you were intensively reading because you aren’t spending time translating every word you don’t know.
Your goal here is to simply get the main points in the text.
Both of these reading methods will introduce you to new vocabulary words. I encourage you to practice both of them!
Reading will introduce you to new vocabulary words. You’re also seeing the words in context, which helps with understanding how a word is used. To make sure you don’t forget the word, add it to your flashcard deck!
3. Keeping a Language Learning Journal
Keeping a language learning journal is a great way to produce in your target language, and put those vocabulary words you found to use in the safe environment of your journal. It’s also a great way to pinpoint gaps in your vocabulary without having a conversation.
When I first started writing in my language learning diary, I was shocked at the basic gaps in my vocabulary.
I realized that when I’m speaking to my online tutor about topics outlined in the textbook, the words I’m using then aren’t always relevant to my life. I might learn how to talk about highways in Norway, but not so much about my specific field of work which is much more relevant to my daily life.
It was only once I sat down to write about my day in a language learning diary did I realize what key words I was missing.
Bottom line: Keeping a journal where you write about what’s important to you forces you to produce in your target language. On top of that, you notice words you don’t actually know how to say that you say daily in your mother tongue.
There’s a common thought within the language learning community to learn what’s relevant to you before learning obscure vocabulary words. Keeping a journal allows you to do that organically.
RECOMMENDED: A Language Learning Journal is a Necessity. Here’s Why.
All in All…
There are plenty of other ways to learn new vocabulary words, and most of them tie into the general goal of learning a language.
The three ways I covered here for how to learn foreign language vocabulary fast—using digital foreign language flashcards, intensively and extensively reading, and keeping a journal in your target language—are what I think are the best ways to learn new vocabulary words.
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