Helpful Strategies for Memorizing IELTS Vocabulary
How to effectively memorize vocabulary
For someone like me, who finds it challenging to employ traditional methods of repeatedly reading, writing, and memorizing words as we did in elementary or middle school, a different approach is necessary. Here’s why:
1. Different Task Loads: During school, the number of words required to be memorized within a set period was relatively small. For instance, one might have needed to memorize 200 words in a week. However, now the demand has increased significantly, with the need to memorize around 200 words per day.
2. Limited Time and Energy: In elementary and middle school, the primary focus was on learning. Now, with work and other responsibilities, there isn’t as much time and energy available for intensive study sessions.
Given these factors, I’ve developed an efficient method for vocabulary memorization tailored for busy learners. This method spreads the workload over a longer period, requiring less intensive effort at any one time.
Steps for Vocabulary Memorization
Preparation: Selecting the Right Vocabulary Book
Choose a vocabulary book that suits your level. I recommend a book that grades words based on their difficulty and frequency of occurrence in texts. This way, you can start with simpler words and gradually progress to more complex ones, providing a psychological boost and maintaining motivation. After all, no one wants to open a book and find that they don’t recognize most of the words on the first page.
Step 1: Filtering Words to Memorize (Round 1, R1)
Duration: 6-10 days
Daily Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours
Open the book and cover the Chinese translations with a sheet of paper. If you recognize the meaning of a word, skip it. For words you don't know, write them down. This process constitutes the first round of memorization. Aim to write down around 100-150 unfamiliar words per day. If you have extra time, review these words again in the evening.
The act of writing enhances memory retention. Similar to how we learned Chinese characters in school, writing helps reinforce memory. During this process, you may encounter synonyms or antonyms. Take the time to look them up and note them down beside the words. This step should take around 6-10 days.
Step 2: Creating Your Personalized Vocabulary Book (Round 2, R2)
Duration: 6-10 days
Daily Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours
After the initial round of writing, move to the second phase: type the words into a computer and format them in a way that aids your memory. Include the word, its part of speech, and its translation. This process involves further organizing, processing, and memorizing the words. Aim for around 100 words per day, taking another 6-10 days.
Step 3: Memorization (Round 3, R3)
Duration: 1 week to 10 days
Daily Time Commitment: Approximately 1 hour
Now that you have a personalized vocabulary book containing words that you found challenging, divide the words into groups to be reviewed over 7-10 days. Each day, spend time reviewing, memorizing, and recalling the meanings of these words. Use methods from my previous notes on vocabulary memorization, such as grouping words and scheduling review sessions.
Step 4: Consolidation through Listening or Reading (Round 4, R4)
To ensure words are retained, apply them in practical contexts. For words where spelling is critical, use dictation exercises. For example, I repeated dictation exercises for essential listening words over six months, achieving over 90% accuracy. For reading vocabulary, read articles daily and revisit your vocabulary book to reinforce learning. You can also add relevant phrases, fixed expressions, and example sentences alongside the words.
The first three steps take about a month in total. The consolidation phase is ongoing and should be adjusted based on your schedule. I recommend against jumping into reading difficult texts without any vocabulary foundation. Instead, start with a preliminary review of the words to make subsequent reading more manageable.
This structured approach ensures a manageable, efficient, and sustainable way to expand your vocabulary, even with a busy schedule.
