I still remember, very clearly, the first German I met who wanted to brush up on his English skills. A student, but not a language student, he was planning to travel to Ireland on holiday. He wanted to improve on his English before he left. He took out a little wooden box filled with small cards with carefully written nouns, adjectives and short phrases.
"I have to get through two hundred of these by next week," he announced. What was this? I was shocked. This seemed like some form of obscure torture to me. Mind numbing mental gymnastics. My mind struggled to imagine any way that box would help him. Ordering the items one by one is the local shop? Trying to lay the cards out in order to ask when the next bus is due? Throwing them together randomly for an creative conversation?
Through the years I have studied six languages, some intensively, some slowly and I have never, ever learned vocabulary in this way. But I have encountered this flash card phenomenon in Germany many times since.
I've often since wondered why this method is so prevalent in Germany. Communicative language teaching i.e. learning to communicate through various situations as opposed to learning by rote has been established nearly worldwide for decades. The standard of English seems to be high in Germany, so does it work?
Many adults fall back on this method both for themselves and for their own children of school age when faced with mountains of new material or the idea that learning English needs to be hard work in order to work. This is a clear example of the difference between passing exams and using language in real life. Flashcards may get you through an exam, but after time has passed, will you remember that word in a conversation, or how to use it? Vocabulary is not the only part of language.
If you want to learn vocabulary, there are many aids available to purchase. From preprinted index cards, learning software, apps, to online language courses. There are so many ways to slim your wallet. But the amount of money spent is not always relative to learning success.
I'm going to tell you a secret. One you'll never hear from educational materials publishers. In order to improve your vocabulary, you don't need to spend any money at all. Not one cent. I've listed my favorites below.
1. Do the Vocab Dance
Pick about ten vocabulary and write them on sticky notes.
You can have a picture on one side and the spelling on the other.
Put on some music, something with a good beat. Either a song connected to the vocab you are learning or just music on its own. I like this https://youtu.be/yxTdYkx2hQQ
For each topic you pick, change the music.
Draw the curtains.
Place the sticky notes around the room with enough space between them so you have to move.
As you walk around, stop at a word, on the beat, say it, touch it (each word in a different way - tap, slap, swoosh, tickle). You can do sudden turns, slide with your feet, shake that booty - anything goes.
I did remind you to draw the curtains.
Repeat three times.
I told you it works.
2. Release your inner songwriter
As we all know, English spelling rules are not always immediately obvious. Tough, through, threw. It's just not fair. One of my favourite books shows a great way to remember spelling and vocabulary. In Mathilda by Roald Dahl, Miss Honey the teacher has shown the youngest children a way to spell a difficult word beyond their ability, using a rhyme. Miss Trunchbull, the evil headmistress tests them:
"And what exactly is this magic method, Miss Honey?" asked the Headmistress.
"I'll show you," piped up the brave Nigel again, coming to Miss Honey's rescue. "Can I put my other foot down and turn around, please, while I show you?"
"You may do neither!" snapped the Trunchbull. "Stay right as you are and show me just the same!"
"All right," said Nigel, wobbling crazily on his one leg. "Miss Honey gives us a little song about each word and we all sing it together and we learn to spell it in no time. Would you like to hear the song about 'difficulty'?"
"I should be fascinated," the Trunchbull said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Here it is," Nigel said.
"Mrs. D, Mrs. I, Mrs. F-F-I. Mrs. C, Mrs. U., Mrs. L-T-Y.
That spells difficulty."
"How perfectly ridiculous!" snorted the Trunchbull. " Why are all these women married? And anyway, you're not meant to teach poetry when you're teaching spelling. Cut it out in future, Miss Honey."
My advice: Don't be a Trunchbull.
3. Label it:
There are two methods I like. The first is to look around your home or workplace, your car, your garden shed. Write the name of the object on a sticky note and put it on that object. Every time you go by, you'll be reminded of that word and its spelling and you're learning already in context. You can close your eyes or look away to test yourself. (Only idiots do this while driving. You have been warned.)
The second is to create several sticky notes on a certain subject. Put them beside a place you visit regularly. Your PC, the coffee machine, your bed. Hey, no judgement. I have even heard of sticky notes in the bathroom. If it's ok for the smartphone, it's ok for sticky notes. And the consequences are not as serious if something happens to slip into the loo.
Leave the notes for a couple of weeks, then change them and change their position. People will be impressed at the evidence of your creative genius. Besides, who doesn't love buying sticky notes? All the beautiful, square, sticky colours of the rainbow.
4. Record it:
You have a list of words, you'd like to be able to remember? Speak them into your voice recording app on your smartphone. Say them in your native language first, wait a couple of seconds and then say the English translation. You can play this back while driving, running with headphones or even making the dinner. As you get better, you can beat your speed and set new records.
5. Build a donkey bridge:
The image that the German word Eselsbrücke conjures is so clear and self explanatory. Donkey bridge. A reliable donkey helping you to connect the mountains of Memory and Vocabulary over the river of Forgetfulness. It even comes to my mind faster than the equivalent in my native English. In English the word is mnemonic. (The m is silent.) The dictionary defines a mnemonic as a system such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations which assists in remembering something. Like a donkey bridge.
A famous example are the music notes E, G, B, D, F. To remember this, we were taught the following sentence. Every Good Boy Deserves Food. Which is more than a little cruel when you think about it. Doesn't every boy deserve food, whether they are good or not? Gosh, the world was mean when I was a kid. Cue sad music and looking into the distance.
I suppose it's not surprising that Mnemonic is an instantly forgettable word. It is badly in need of a mnemonic itself. Many Nerds Eat Mangoes or Nuts In Cars. Wow! Done!
There are books to help you imagine. Schieb das Schaf von Oliver Geisselhart and Helmut Lange is one. You build an image to connect the phonics of the word and meaning. One criticism is that the need to translate back to German, an extra step is still present, keeping your thoughts in your native language. It's much better to learn the vocab in context…an English context. Which leads me on to…
6. Go native:
Watch film or YouTube videos in English. Subscribe to a channel and watch one video a week. These are not just good for vocabulary but also for expressions, listening comprehension, accent - the works. I love Carpool Karaoke and My Drunk Kitchen at the moment. You can read native newspapers online. You can use recipes in English, or watch a Demo for your hobby in English.
7. Do the cross word
Daily English ESL crossword not just for schoolkids.
8. Let music lead the way:
There's an American song on the radio and you love it, but are not sure of everything they are singing? Make a note (on your smartphone e.g. Siri) and print out the lyrics when you get home. Read them, translate them if necessary. The next time that song comes on, you can sing along. Let out your inner Adele. This is a fantastic way to learn everyday expressions, slang and poetic language.
9. Stand the silence
Yes, I am rewriting the Rea Garvey song. Take courage and speak. There will be words you have forgotten or maybe have never learned. There will be gaps in the conversation. Maybe even awkward gaps. Tumbleweed may blow by. Don't be scared. Lean in to your discomfort. Do not let it hinder you from speaking. We stall in English by saying, "Just a minute, I'm thinking of the word." This is perfectly acceptable. Even native speakers take a moment to find the right word. I guarantee you, that if you struggle and remember the word during a conversation, you will probably never forget it again.
10. Role Play:
Choose a situation or a time such as Sunday morning breakfast, Saturday afternoon bike ride or Tea and Chat Time. Make it a family affair. Decide that this time will be an English language only time. It can be awkward at first, but that soon gives way to enjoyment and even competition. You'll find yourself using phrases from "Can you pass the butter please, darling?" to "But have you considered the fiscal implications of Brexit?" in no time.
Ground rules: There are no teachers in this situation, just equals using what language they have. (Yes, I mean you, parents, spouses, know it alls). No native language. You may research some new language between sessions and finally after two or three similar sessions, change the situation e.g. you are now sure of lunch language, then let's talk hiking.
Any other sort of role play or ideas you may have are entirely your own business.
11. Get the kids onboard:
If you have children, chances are they are learning English. Perhaps you are a little in shock or at least in awe of the speed and scope of what they need to learn.
The good news is that you can help each other.
You can ask them their homework, you can play the vocabulary dance together, you can do any of the games and tricks above.
You can use your children's study plan to help decide what topic you want to cover e.g hobbies and free time. There is plenty for you to learn here too.
12. Reading:
E books are just so handy aren't they? For me personally, nothing beats the smell and feel of paper, but e books can have many advantages. Not only does your library fit into your bag, and books are instantly downloadable, but they are great way to hide certain volumes you wouldn't want on your shelf e.g. Shades of Grey. For language and vocabulary learning, they can be a real bonus. Many e readers have an inbuilt dictionary. If you don't know a word, just touch it and the explanation appears. Learning in context, in a native language environment. Perfect.
Remember:
Be gentle with yourself. Depending on your goals you can set targets or topics to cover e.g. picks two to three of the methods below per week for six weeks. I advise you to pick your favorite two or three ways from this list, try them out regularly for about three weeks. If that particular method doesn't work for you, try a different one, till you find one or more that does. My guess is you'll learn vocabulary without noticing, in context, along with so many other aspects of language.
So, about that secret. Sticking at it will only work if you are having fun. If you look forward to it. As I learned quicker than anywhere else in the sink or swim world of teaching English to kindergarten kids, if you make it fun, you'll enjoy it more, do it more often. Learning is guaranteed along the way.
1. http://www.spiegel.de/schulspiegel/lerntheorien-schueler-lernen-vokabeln-im-experiment-a-996886-2.html
2. Mathilda, Roald Dahl, 1988