26 male. quiet, shy, no friends. My vocabulary is pretty limited. I've been trying to learn words but its difficult since just learning them out of a book, will not give me the whole picture on their usage.
Also, even though i'm a quiet person , I talk at times with people. But i tend to use the same basic vocabulary that i have and fail to come up with words i've learned recently. Either i can't remember them, or i feel uneasy using words which i don't even know how to use. It's even more embarrasing since i'm a pretty old person and people my age are usually mature at this age with no major problems in their speaking skills.
what kind of things can i do to effectively retain vocabulary and learn to use it correctly, even though i have no friends to talk to?
2006-10-18 02:33:24 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Watch PBS, watch on line videos, and listen to what and how they say things
2006-10-18 02:35:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reading is a great way to increase your vocabulary. But you also need to be able to hear a native speaker say the words. Go to the library and get some books on tape, listen then repeat it out loud.
Also pick a word every day or weekly (I am teaching my self Cantonese very slowly) and try it out on incidental (adj- meaning casual;minor) people such as the dry cleaner or your waitress. You can also go to bars, coffee or the real sort and just listen. This will also give you more chances for incidental contacts.
One other thing to keep in mind is that en-lighted people are not judging you on your communication skills, they will often be happy to help you out.
Quick story- My husbands cousin came here at the age of 18 and does not have to use English on a daily basis. When he talks to me I know he gets embarrassed. I keep telling him he shouldn't be, because I was born and brought up in English, I'd better be good at it. I did not have the courage to move to foreign country as an adult and try to start from zero, he shouldn't be embarrassed he should be proud.
Hope that helps.
2006-10-18 11:08:24 · answer #2 · answered by J.You 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Learning from a book is hard work - try reading: newspapers, novels, technical books on a topic that interests you, anything that is well-written (not trashy novels, using colloquial or idiomatic language) then you can see words used in context. If you come across an unfamililiar word, then look at the dictionary and re-read the sentence, replacing the unfamiliar word with the definition, so it makes sense
2006-10-18 02:44:32 · answer #3 · answered by anabelezenith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read, read, read. Read good novels that you find interesting. You will always find good words in a good story and come up with new words to use through conversation. You could do the same with watching movies on T.V. I suppose. But, a lot of times you don't quit catch what was said in the movie and the only way you can catch it is to back it up several times if the movie is on DVD or Video. For me though, if I read and see on paper in writing, I retain it better.
2006-10-18 02:40:32 · answer #4 · answered by Vida 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Travel and talk with people whom you will not see probably never more. You will not have to be shy and remarks will not be so painful as from people of your permanent environment, no influence on your status. Some people like to talk strories for strangers in trains etc., and do not stop even if you do not understand many things, just give an occasional nod.
2006-10-18 02:49:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a creative writing class at a local college, that would be cheap. Listen to books on tapes, which will teach you new words and you can enjoy the activity in your spare time or while driving. Your local library has them for free on CD and cassette tapes.
2006-10-18 02:37:52 · answer #6 · answered by kam_1261 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all, if you're wanting to become unshy, you're going to have to work on that through self-confidence and the best way to work through that is to talk to people. join a club, a group, a church. introduce yourself.
secondly, you could try advanced english audio courses if you don't want to read. otherwise, the best way for you to grasp the english language is to immerse yourself in it by reading, hearing, and speaking it. when you come across a word you don't understand, have a dictionary handy to look up its meaning.
there's no quick solution to your question, but if you really want to make changes in your life, only you have the power and the will to make it happen. good luck.
2006-10-18 02:46:09 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well,even though you aren't able to use a new word in an actual conversation talking to another person,you can use it communicating in other ways like talking on the3 phone or chatting with others online! if you have access to a computer(which you obviously do)look up new vocabulary words,practice them in any way you can!
2006-10-18 02:44:21 · answer #8 · answered by tinaluvsglass 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find some free websites with message boards and chat rooms. This will help you learn from others and give you more confidence to interact.
2006-10-18 02:35:44 · answer #9 · answered by Mo the treehugger! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the wall street journal.
Read books from the early 1900s
Buy vocab books
Buy SAT prep vocab books. (this helps A LOT)
2006-10-18 10:42:09 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋