SUGGESTIONS FOR LEARNING AND REVIEWING VOCABULARY

Each chapter in this textbook introduces thirty to forty words from the Academic Word List. Some of these words may be familiar to you, while others may be unfamiliar to you. The definitions of these words are not provided for you in the text. Therefore, you must learn to use an English-English dictionary (a monolingual English dictionary for EST. learners) effectively to extract a variety of useful information about the words; this information should be written down and reviewed from time to time to help you commit the words to long-term memory. Using vocabulary cardsand vocabulary notebooksare two effective methods of clearly organizing vocabulary. Try both methods and choose the method that works best for you.

A complete entry on a vocabulary card or in a vocabulary notebook might contain the following information, all of which can be found in a dictionary:

• word meaning, explanation, or synonym with an optional translation

• multiple meanings of the same word

• illustration of the meaning to help visualize the word

• phonetic pronunciation

• any spelling irregularities (e.g., plural forms)

• other word forms (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)

• prefixes and suffixes included in the word

• prefixes and suffixes that can be added to form new words

• collocations (words that are commonly used together)

• formal or informal style

• positive or negative connotations

• topic associations

• an original sentence

Essential Academic Vocabulary

Vocabulary Cards

You can make vocabulary cards from index cards, either white or colored. Vocabulary cards have many advantages because they are easy to carry around, can be placed in any order for review or practice, and can be posted in convenient locations for review. Study the following sample vocabulary card. {Important note: Not all words in a dictionary provide the same amount of information. Some entries will be shorter or longer than this one.)

Word

Illustration

/!MiB>)GU)TY

Meaning

Original sentence

the condition of having, more, than one, meaning.

~\he ambiguity of this test question makes me unsure how to answer it.

Part of Speech

ambiguity—noun

Pronunciation (am' bi gyoo 1 te) n.,

Associations

meanings ..... words

ambiguity
remarks ideas

Related word forms

ambiguous—adj. unambiguous—adj. (antonym) ambiguities—pi. ambi- = both

Collocations the ambiguity of words ambiguous remarks ambiguities in an essay

Sample Vocabulary Card

Appendix II

Vocabulary Notebook

Some people prefer to use a vocabulary notebook to record and review vocabulary. Choose a medium-sized notebook—a small one may be difficult to organize clearly, and a large one may be difficult to carry around easily. The same information that is recorded on vocabulary cards can be recorded in a vocabulary notebook. The following example is one way to organize your vocabulary information in a notebook.

ambiguity (n)-Meaning

the condition of having mo, -than one meaning

(Illustration» Sentence

r~ :_-: ation JRdaedword

JBODB ___

The ambiguity of this test question makes Me unsure how to answer it. (am¹ bi gyoo i te) n., ambiguous (adj.) unambiguous (adj.) (antonyM ambiguities (pi) ambi- = both Meanings, words, ideas, remarks. the ambiguity of words ambiguous remarks ambiguities in an essay

Notebook Page

Reviewing Vo

It usually takes from five to Crrsrr - _ - .vord to commit the word to memory.

Therefore, you should regu!ir. --. _ _ - : new vocabulary. It is best to review new words
immediately after writing :h:^_ _ ;^_;^;-: the period of time between reviews until

you feel that you have rhoro.i— Here are some methods you can try:

Look away from the care Say the words and mear Practice with a partner. Think of different aucffm Use the words in new ser: Use the new words in :

_

s--g—do not just read it.

;::renences.

Appendix III

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1145