Skip to content Admit it or not whether you’re currently in school or trying to land a job, the most essential prowess you must possess is proficiency in the English language. If you want to ace a class presentation, essay, or job interview, you must equip yourself-if not fully-with sufficient amount of vocabulary. You don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of your interviewer, audience, or reader, right?
The harsh reality of today’s generation is that being knowledgeable of the English language means you’re smart and superior. It can’t be help though. Proficiency in the English language seems to be always associated with global competitiveness. In most cases, if Filipinos would try their luck abroad, the first and foremost requirement is English proficiency. Well, this doesn’t imply neglecting our born language because in order to cope up with the inevitable changes of the world, we need to develop and adapt.
Majority would probably agree to this absolute stand by Stahl & Nagy, 2006; A person who knows more words can speak and even think more precisely about the world. A person who knows the terms scarlet and crimson and azure and indigo can think about colors in different way than a person who is limited to red and blue… words divide the world; the more words we have, the more complex ways we can think about the world.
TIP 1. READ.
According to Dixon-Krauss 2001, vocabulary acquisition is divided into three categories including a. predominantly supportive of indirect instruction b. predominantly supportive of direct instruction and c. authentic word experiences.
Note that in order for you to acquire or enrich your vocabulary, you need to immerse yourself with words. Reading English Novels or English textbooks is one of the best indirect instructions you must do. However, it really takes a lot of time and effort since it’s not simply batting an eye on words or phrases.
Understanding differs from comprehension in degree. You may understand the meaning of a word but can’t really construct a sentence when they instruct you to. Meanwhile, comprehension is understanding the essence of the word and knowing how to use it in a sentence whether as a noun or an adjective.
Now, how can you understand and comprehend a word simultaneously? If you ever encounter an unfamiliar word while reading, this is when you consult the electronic or physical dictionary, whichever is available. Try to jot down the meaning of the word or if it’s too troublesome, you can just etch it in mind and try to establish your own sentence using it. In that way, it will have a higher chance to retain in your memory.