How easy it is to memorize 100 English words a day

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is quite possible to expand your vocabulary by 100 words a day if you use flashcards, apply the method of association and repetition. Read on to learn how to learn 100 words each that will really come in handy in communication, consolidate the material you have learned, and keep you motivated.

Have you decided to learn the language? What prevents you from simply opening the dictionary and learning all the words in a row? That's right, without associations and repetition, you will not learn anything - there will be a jumble of words in your head, and some of them will not leave a trace.

There is one simple technique related to the use of flashcards, associations and the correct choice of words, which allows you to learn 100 or more words a day, quickly master the basics of the language and increase your vocabulary. This technique is presented in the free application for iOS and Android "Uchisto".

In it, you can easily learn words according to the proposed memorization method, and track your progress, and set reminders for repeating already studied material. But first things first.

Method of paper cards

With the help of paper cards, generations of translators have been increasing their vocabulary in record time. This seemingly simple technique is based on the very mechanism of memorization, the use of short-term and long-term memory.

The student has a deck of cards, each with a foreign word written on one side and a translation on the other. He flips through these cards, pronouncing foreign words and memorizing the translation. If the word is remembered, he puts the card aside; if not, he removes the decks down to repeat it later.

After memorizing all the words, the cards are set aside, and after a certain period of time (a week or a month) they are repeated again.

The initially learned word gets into short-term memory, and after the cards are put aside, it is quickly forgotten. However, then it turns out that the erased information came in handy and instead of short-term memory, learned words fall into long-term memory. In other words, they are memorable.

Like paper cards, only better

The application "Uchisto" fully implements this technique of cards. You can flip them, read a new word in English and its transcription, and on the back - the translation.

You can put the memorized cards aside by clicking "Learned", or you can keep them for review by simply flipping with a swipe. In addition, you can change the settings and learn words by translating from Russian to English.

After studying each vocabulary, the "Check in 30 days" timer is automatically set, so that you periodically pass the tests and do not forget the material you have passed.

As you can see, the technique of cards is fully implemented in the application, however, unlike real cardboard cards, learning words in Uchisto is much more convenient for several reasons.

Firstly, on each card there is not only a transcription, but also an audio icon, by clicking on which you listen to the correct pronunciation of a word in English. Thus, the application partially replaces your teacher.

Secondly, you can edit the translation of words by adding notes about your associations with the word. The association technique helps to memorize words even better and transfer them into long-term memory from the first time.

Associations and complete methodology "Uchisto"

A word that is not associated with images you are familiar with is quite easy to forget. The brain simply did not build a neural connection for this word, it is not associated with anything and instantly disappears from your memory.

To memorize a word, you need to associate it with familiar objects and concepts. For example, you come across the word challenge, which means "problem" in translation.

You imagine the NASA Challenger spacecraft and the disaster that killed the entire shuttle crew. It was a massive blow to the reputation of the United States, colossal monetary losses and a real PROBLEM.

So, an unfamiliar word connects in your brain: challenge = disaster of the shuttle "Challenger" → serious problem. You have built an association for yourself, new neural connections have appeared in the brain, and now you can easily remember what this word means.

When you have come up with a vivid association, linking the word with the translation, do not rush to click the "Learned" button. First, repeat the word aloud five times while visualizing your picture. By the way, for associations it is advised to present something funny and ridiculous - it is more memorable.

So, the complete teaching methodology "Uchisto", with the help of which you will memorize words in the application, sounds as follows:

Read an unfamiliar word → check your pronunciation → see the translation of the word on the second side of the card → imagine the association with the word and its translation → repeat the word aloud five times and at the same time scroll your association in your head → press “Learned” → consolidate the result, translating from Russian to English → set a reminder to repeat words after 30 days.

If you have not memorized the technique, you can always look at it again in the application itself. On the "Settings" tab, in addition to switching from Russian to English and sounds, there is a step-by-step description of the technique.

And now another equally important point: what kind of words you will learn. After all, all the words in the dictionaries "Uchisto" are not chosen by chance.

We memorize only the necessary words

There are more than a million words in English, but in everyday speech, at best, several thousand are used. So if you need basic language skills to speak fluently with foreigners, read online publications in English, watch news and TV series, then a few thousand is enough to start.

The application "Uchisto" presents precisely the frequency dictionaries - a selection of 100 words most often used in everyday life and literature.

Why exactly 100 words? It is known that taking small steps towards a goal is much easier than trying to learn a lot at one time. A clear distribution into portions of 100 words helps to systematize your learning, start with pleasure and follow your progress with the same pleasure.

To begin with, you are given three free dictionaries with which you can rate how much you like learning according to the Uchisto method. And then you can buy separately one dictionary at a time or buy everything at once with a 20% discount.

We follow the progress and do not forget to repeat

On the last tab of the Uchisto application, you can track your progress by day: how much you learned on which day of the week, how many words your vocabulary increased in general.

Of course, one app is not enough to learn English and speak it fluently. For example, you can try lessons with native speakers via Skype to improve your spoken English, and watch movies and TV shows in English to improve your vocabulary.

However, the Uchisto application will provide you with a platform for a great start, will help you to believe in your capabilities and strengths, even if you are starting from scratch.

You learn words in any convenient place and at any time: in traffic jams, transport, queues or in the evening, before going to bed, which is especially effective for long-term memory. The main thing is not to lower the bar.