Did you know that you can get more vocabulary from reading something? And surprisingly, it doesn’t have to be from a boring textbook? Try my simple actions to get more vocabulary and really use it!
Getting more vocabulary from reading can be overwhelming sometimes. There are too many words there. So, what kind of input should you focus on retaining?
To be able to produce language, you have to get some input. Generally speaking, the input would be reading and listening.
Reading can be a less stressful input. When you listen to something, you have to keep up with the speed unless you can repeat the audio. And you have to guess how the word is spelled.
But with reading, you have more flexibility.
You can set up your speed. The words are already there. They’re spelled correctly.
Therefore, reading is a good start to expand your vocabulary.
To get more vocabulary from reading, there are some strategies you can do.
Once you know how to do it, you can move to the next level. From easy to more complex reading.
How to get more vocabulary from a reading
A reading can be a book, article from the internet, food labels, or a short story in your English book from your English class.
When you read, write the new words down. I categorize the reading into two types :
- Short text
- Long text
There are some strategies you could try for each of them. Let’s see it one by one.
1. Short text
The short text here refers to one or two words. It’s easy to start with them.
You could choose one of these :
- Read then collect
For example : read the price labels in the grocery store.
There will be a name of the product and its price on the label.
Go to a grocery store and do these :
- Take some pictures along with the price label if it’s possible (or bring a notebook to write them down)
- Collect 5-10 words at a time
- Once you are available, write them in your journal.
- Categorize the words, for instance : fruit, vegetable, produce
- Use them to make a short story.
Writing example :
– Write a short story 5-10 sentences about your shopping experience
– Make a shopping or grocery list
- Collect then read
I call this word hunting. These are things that you need to do :
- Look up some vocabulary on the internet or your English book. Choose a category. So, you know where you will hunt.
For example, choose clothes as a category. - Find 5-10 words related to clothes.
- Write them down. Don’t try to find the meaning.
- Go to the mall or clothing store where you could find those things and start hunting.
- When you find them, read it with a low voice.
- Take pictures if it’s possible.
- Once you’re available, use them in writing short stories.
Or, you could make a sketch of the store you’ve visited. Then practice your grammar about Prepositions of Place and Giving Directions in English.
Next time you go there, list the other things.
Or read the signage. The signage shows you the category of the clothes.
Who knows, in some months you’ll be able to use the vocabulary related to a clothing store
2. Long text
Books and articles, or even short passages are long texts.
What you need to do is similar to the short text. Write them down.
First, make sure the text is on your level. Then, do the intensive reading.
Intensive reading means reading carefully for all the details. It’s not just about understanding the words and the main point of the text.
It also involves picking up on things like hidden meanings and the author’s tone (like whether they’re being funny, sarcastic, or exaggerating).
And why the author wrote the text (to inform, entertain, persuade, etc.).
Here’s how to do intensive reading from a long text :
- Read the title. Look at the picture if there’s any. Guess what you will read about.
- Start with the first paragraph. Read it silently. Highlight or underline the new words.
- Read it out loud. Highlight repetitive words.
- Try to guess the meaning of those new words. Look at the sentences before and after the words appear.
Most of the time, the words around give you clues, whether it’s positive or negative words, a place, human or animals, etc. - List 5-10 new words.
- Make some questions :
– What’s the paragraph about?
– What’s the main idea ?
– Is the paragraph describing something or persuading you to do a thing? - Continue and repeat on next paragraphs depend on your capability
- Check the words in the dictionary. An English-to-English dictionary is good to expose you more to English. For example : Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster.
- Use the words to create short paragraph in context
Can I just look up some vocabulary on the internet?
Yes, you can.
But, you have to decide the context.
What’s the point of having a lot of words but you don’t know when or where to use them?
The vocabulary in a reading is contextual.
In other words, words can have different meanings or interpretations based on the surrounding words, phrases, sentences, and the overall content of the text.
Furthermore, the words that appear there are the words that you would use in the same situation. It’s not like picking up random words from a list and memorizing them.
For example : You read a job advertisement on the street or the internet. There, you find new words. Those words are in context with job hunting. Next time you want to talk or write about a job opportunity, you could use those words you’ve got.
Conclusion
Reading is a great way to get more vocabulary. It helps because you can see how a word is used, whether it’s an action or a thing, and which words go with it.
Our main goal in getting vocabulary is to gain useful input. To gain the input, we need strategies.
You can collect some words you need. Or surprise yourself with words around you.
And, do intensive reading to get deep understanding.
We can choose wisely which input we really need. Therefore, this input could prepare us to produce the language.
What can I do for you?
Everyone’s journey is unique. Also their problems. We’re struggling in different ways. That’s okay.
Do you have any strategies that I haven’t mentioned yet? Feel free to enlighten me and let me learn from you!