When you are old and don't know vocabulary, how do you gain voocab quickly?

Question

I'm 27 and i just can't understand lots of vocabulary that other people my age usually know.

so what can i do? i study on my own but it doesn't seem to sink in my mind. In fact, throughout my school years i've been introduced to alot of vocabulary but much of it just got lost somewhere in my mind. Am i the only one with this problem? And if so, how can i quickly learn more vocabulary so that i can understand what normal adults talk about?

Answer 1

Do it in two parts: study vocab flashcards, and read a lot.

This way, you'll see/learn words, then they'll be reinforced when you're reading. You can get great word lists in GRE study guides, or look in the kids' section of bookstores for advanced vocab flashcards.

When you're reading, underline all the words you don't know and look them up. Over time, they'll start to sink in. And by the way, 27 isn't old.

Answer 2

Something I've done all of my life..I read the dictionary...for fun (weird I know!)...
When you hear a word you don't know, write it down, look it up, and force yourself to use it at some point in the next day or two..
My co-workers and I (some of "word" freak friends) on Monday mornings, we give each other a new word to learn...this word is written on a card with the proper pronuciation and the meaning..at the end of the week, we each use our new word in a sentence to each other...using words will be what makes you remember them..they should become part of your every day vocabulary...my Mom did the same thing my co-workers do every week..she gave my brother and I new word every Monday night at dinner...on Friday, if we could use the word properly, we earned things..like an extra half hour of TV...stuff like that to entice us to learn....Having a buddy do this with you would make it more of a game and less like learning!

Answer 3

You've got to use the vocabulary to remember it. Try signing up for a word of the day program or get a word of the day calendar. Read and re-read the word throughout the day and make it your goal to use the word in conversation at least 5 times. The more you use these words the more they will "stick".

It may be tempting to try to learn multiple words a day, but that can get confusing. Concentrate on learning and utilizing one new word a day.

Answer 4

Play word games. Get simple crossword puzzles. (A lot of them are confusing and won't help you if you don't know a lot about pop culture.) Read books. Try getting a LiveJournal. It doesn't matter if nobody reads it but you. When you write in it, try to use one new word every day. Writing is a good way to help remember new words.

Answer 5

Find some one to speak with, at the coffee shop,at church, at the bus stop, just about anywhere will do. Pick a subject that is interesting for the both of you. Be flexible, discuss anything. This is a way to meet the opposite sex as well!

Answer 6

READ! READ! READ! Learn English. Most of us speak English, but we became accustomed to the language by conversing with others that speak the language.
Hang around people that use big words.
The best way to learn to speak a new language is to hang around the people that speak the language.

Answer 7

find a book type you enjoy such as fiction,thrillers etc and simply read rather then watch TV and your vocabulary will increase on its own as every word you read is in context and thus not dry boring learning.
Hope this helps

Answer 8

Carry a dictionary, thesaurus, paper and pencil. LISTEN to people speak whether it's in person, on TV or radio. Words you do not know, write them down. Learn about their meaning and how they are used. then PRACTICE using them. In time, they become habitual and instinctive. It requires practice.

Answer 9

do crossword puzzles and pick one three syllable word out of the dictionary every day and learn it. after a week or so, you'll amaze yourself how easily you can use your vocab in almost any sentence...and you'll rock at word worm if you happen to play cranium!

Answer 10

another great way to build vocab/spelling skills is playing scrabble or literai here on yahoo. For every word that you don't know that some1 has placed- you can take that word and write it down and look at it later.. it's fun AND educational!!