English for beginners – practical approaches to learning new words

The issue of expanding vocabulary is relevant both for those who are taking their first steps in learning English for beginners and for confident speakers. In this article, you will discover effective methods for acquiring new words, where to find them, and you will gain insights into memory retention techniques.

Contents

1. Key considerations for beginners starting their English journey
2. Sources of new English words
3. Studying principles of English for beginners
4. Effective learning strategies of English for beginners

Key considerations for beginners starting their English journey

There’s a common misconception that embarking on an English learning journey being advanced in years is almost like «mission impossible». However, such courses are consistently in demand, with groups formed based not only on English proficiency but also age, interests, and learning objectives. It’s crucial to enroll in classes led by certified teachers, as this is where learners acquire foundational knowledge and skills.

Finding courses and resources for learning new words should not be a challenge. Due to English’s popularity, you may already be familiar with some English words and phrases (repost, user-friendly, link, influencer). The internet is a treasure trove of diverse English content, including educational resources.

Sources of new English words

The English language boasts an extensive vocabulary of over 270,000 words, but that doesn’t mean you need to master all of them. Like any language, English has a core set of frequently used words that should be your initial focus. Aim to acquire your first 1,000 words, as this will equip you to express yourself in typical situations.

Surprisingly, knowing just the first thousand of the most commonly used words will enable you to understand nearly three-quarters of everyday language. If you expand your vocabulary to the first three thousand words, you’ll cover approximately 85% of English vocabulary.

Consider your typical reading materials, listening preferences, and viewing habits in your native language. Seek out the equivalent content in English and use it as an additional source for language practice. However, be mindful that the language used by Jack London when writing «White Fang» differs from the language spoken by native speakers in contemporary everyday conversations. From this perspective, subscribing to an English mems channel on Instagram may be more beneficial for speaking practice than reading «The Hobbit» in the original.

Studying principles of English for beginners

A critical factor in the process of learning English, especially for beginners is the repetition of information learned. Understanding certain rules can greatly enhance your English classes efficiency. In 1885, the German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted a groundbreaking experiment on humans’ memory, yielding the following conclusions:

• within the first 30 minutes of encountering new material, a person tends to forget 60% of it;
• after 10 hours, only about 35% of the information remains retained;
• after 6 days only 20% of the material initially learnt remains in memory.

However, there is also encouraging news: carefully contemplated information is retained nine times more effectively.

Ebbinghaus' experiments led to the development of a system for long-term memorization of new information, known as spaced repetition:

• the first repetition should occur immediately after you finish reading;
• the second repetition is best scheduled 20-30 minutes after the first;
• the third repetition is recommended one day after the second;
• the fourth one should take place two to three weeks after the third;
• the fifth repetition should be conducted two to three months after the fourth.

If you opt for attending English courses, inquire whether they incorporate the spaced repetition system into their educational approach. When combined with practical methods for learning new words, the utilization of this system can bring noticeable and lasting results.

Effective learning strategies of English for beginners

Below, we will describe five methods that are easy to apply in practice and have proven to be effective. By following these tips, you will soon experience the benefits of using them when learning English for beginners.

Organize vocabulary by topics

It is easier for your brain to memorize and process information when it is classified and sorted into logical groups. Write down words based on topics, for example:

Incorporate your own associations when creating these groups, and do not limit yourself to using only pre-made word lists recommended by a specific textbook or app.

Learn opposites

In addition to acquiring topical vocabulary and synonyms, it’s highly beneficial to explore antonyms – words that have opposite meanings. For instance:

In practice, memorizing words with contrasting meanings is quite easy, therefore if you now write down antonyms for the words you learn, you’ll save a lot of time when encountering them in the future.

Create complete sentences while learning words

You may have heard that memorizing individual words without context can be challenging and ineffective. Beyond simple word associations, you can establish context by crafting your own sentences. Consider the following examples:

Such practices offer a more accessible way to remember words within their natural contexts. Creating new sentences works especially well, because it’s combined with the first method – putting words together by topics. Moreover, you can construct sentences employing specific grammar structures or tenses.

Utilize gamification

When it comes to teaching English to beginners, the interactive aspect of the educational process plays a vital role. It’s highly beneficial to have access to live online textbooks or language learning apps like Quizlet during your courses. Gamification accelerates and simplifies the process of memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules.

1. Flashcards: these cards have a foreign word on the one side and a simplified description on the other.
2. Logic: a word or expression is presented along with four possible meanings, where only one is correct.
3. Spelling: to improve listening comprehension and spelling there’re great tasks when programs can audibly pronounce a word, and learners must write it correctly and receive automatic feedback. 
4. Tests: language learning apps typically offer a variety of tasks that activate memory, logical thinking, and association skills. 

The use of games for educational purposes is a fundamental practice which is called educational entertainment or shortly edutainment. This approach to education has proven to be highly effective and has been successfully implemented in various countries for quite a while.

Practice your English

One of the most basic, yet crucial pieces of advice for enhancing your English proficiency is to apply the vocabulary you’ve learned in real-life practice. For beginners, one of the most effective ways to do this is by participating in speaking clubs.

Speaking clubs are typically organized as group online- or offline meetings, led by a native English speaker. During these sessions, participants engage in discussions on a wide range of topics, actively sharing their thoughts and ideas.

Most likely, you will feel some difficulties when talking at first. To overcome this, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with the discussion’s topic in advance and prepare a few phrases or complete sentences that you’d like to express. Additionally, remember to take notes to capture new words and phrases as you encounter them.

Choose convenient methods for studying and regularly attend English lessons for beginners. And, equally important, don’t forget to review what you’ve learned.