I would like to extend my education and understanding lies in reading books with words unfamiliar to me. Is there a particular book, magazine subcription or other that will allow me to habituallly grasp more in conversation and reading comprehension. And please don't say the dictionary. Narrow it down to a good vocabulary book or text book that you are familiar with. In the long run I want to learn more in regards to engineering and the big words just throw me.
2007-03-21 13:55:38 · 8 answers · asked by AggieMom 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I actually do this with my kids... If you are into engineering, any monthly science publication should do.
1. Choose a selection from a magazine (we usually do Time or Sports Illustrated) and scan/highlight the article for any interesting or unfamiliar words. (I use a higher-level text on purpose for those of you who are wondering; I teach a gifted, self-contained 6th grade class.)
2. Choose five words to investigate.
Now focusing on one word from your list of five...
3. Read the sentences within the paragraph of the word you have chosen. Use these as clues to guess what the word's definition might be. (Using context clues.)
4. Check your definition - you may use the dictionary, the Internet, encyclopedia, etc.
5. What clues led you to a correct or incorrect definition?
It's all about finding strategies to use in the context of a real "reading" situation.
Hope this helps,
Mon :-)
2007-03-21 14:26:42 · answer #1 · answered by santan_cat 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I commend you for wanting to expand your vocabulary. I also share that wish. And I have come far, but wish to go further.
Things I do;
*Anytime I am writing something (even if it's a simple letter) I always look common words up in a thesaurus.
*Anytime I hear a word that I don't know, if I can't figure it out by the sentence it's in, I look it up in the dictionary (sorry, I know you didn't want to hear that one).
*My vocabulary has gotten significantly better since I've been reading higher level books. Jonathan Kozol's "The Shame of the Nation" is full of rich vocabulary. Most of which I could determine the meaning through the sentences, some I did have to look up.
*When I learn a new word, I try to use it a few times a week so I don't forget it.
*As nerdy as it sounds, I have vocab books that I often look through and practice writing them in sentences.
My biggest suggestion is to continue reading. The best way to learn new words is to read them :) Read the newspaper daily, magazines such as Newsweek, and higher level novels. You could go into a University's book store and just look around at any novels you see. Then go check them out from your local library.
~By the way, I am studying to be a teacher and have a lot of information on reading and decoding strategies. Send me an email if you'd like me to share.
2007-03-21 19:10:24 · answer #2 · answered by Sera B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the Op/Ed page of the Wall Street Journal and some liberal paper like the NY Times every day and high-lite or circle the words which you do not know or of which you are not sure and then look up the definitions and write them down and also try to use them each in your daily routine either in written or spoken form.
Commit yourself to such a project for minimum of 1 year and preferably 2 years and you will have a graduate level vocabulary at the end of this fun little exercise.
You will also probably have learned a lot of other interesting information about the world in which you live at the same time !
2007-03-21 16:13:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just read, newspapers, any book, magazines and good sites in the internet. You can learn a lot of new words.
2007-03-21 14:54:54 · answer #4 · answered by wazup1971 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
vocbulary books can be found in the library and on the web if you do a search for refernce or dictionary or theasaurus
this will definitely extend your vocab.
learn a word a day thats how charlie chaplin did it and he had no education and was brought up in a work house
2007-03-22 06:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by ~*tigger*~ ** 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read, and read anything!!!! Talk to your local librarian, she/he will probably be able to give you some ideas on magazines that can give you more ideas on engineering. But just reading helps with your vocabulary.
2007-03-23 17:36:51 · answer #6 · answered by harleighzoe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to dictionary.com and sign up for Word of the Day. You will get a new word every day! Then try to use that word.
Also, read, read, read! That is how I beefed up my vocab.
2007-03-21 14:14:45 · answer #7 · answered by Carol J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read and read some more.
2007-03-21 14:49:58 · answer #8 · answered by OldGringo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋