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HOW TO STUDY IN COLLEGE Chapter 6 – Improving your vocabulary

Improving your vocabulary Trouble/struggles in a class can sometimes be traced to poor comprehension of terms essential to subject matter Some first year courses can introduce almost as many new words as a first year FL course Chemistry: kinetic, isomer, etc. Some courses introduce new meanings for terms you already know; should be learned as if new words

Improving your vocabulary A large wide-ranging vocabulary is necessary for grasping important ideas and facts (mechanic and tool kit analogy)

Using a dictionary According to text, using a dictionary is the best way to improve vocabulary when your encounter a new word Context clues : can be useful, but have limitations Provides only the meaning fitting the situation You often end up with a synonym (not quite the same) Your guesswork can be slightly or greatly mistaken

Using a dictionary Pocket dictionary suggested . . . Abridged vs. unabridged Be aware that NO WORD IS EVER FULLY DEFINED EVEN BY A GOOD DICTIONARY! Words have multiple shades of meaning – these become apparent when using words in a variety of context. DETERIORATION (pollution, corruption, recession, atrophy, loss) The deterioration of: honesty in government, economy, atmosphere, muscles . . ..

Recognizing word roots and prefixes Get to know the most common English roots and prefixes to help learn more than one word at a time Root = the core of the word; it holds the basic meaning Prefix = a word beginning that modifies the root Estimated 60% of common use English are made partly or entirely of prefixes or roots – once learned, they can help you understand many words with no dictionary

Recognizing word roots and prefixes video

Recognizing word roots and prefixes Table 6.1 (129) – Common word roots (bio, cardio, geo, hydro, pyro) Table 6.2 (130) – common prefixes (anti, de, multi, non, pre) Knowing meanings of prefixes/roots can unlock meanings of unfamiliar words, but it should not replace a good ol’ dictionary

Mastering difficult words No quick/easy way to a powerful vocabulary Book suggests writing new words down on notecards record words encountered in the classroom or in textbooks In textbook readings, pay special attention to the definitions of words (defined after first used or in glossary) Learn words that intrigue you; more effective than memorizing from a given list

The frontier vocabulary system Based on natural learning processes The four characteristics of all learning processes: Skills progress from the simple to the complex Each skill is developed in an orderly sequence of steps Each step is at a different level of difficulty No significant step may be skipped. Each step seems to develop the muscle or brain pattern that makes the next step possible. Same with learning words – progress from simple to complex Difficulty in learning a word depends on the complexity of the idea it stands for

The frontier vocabulary system The basis of the frontier vocabulary system: Easiest words learned first At the forward edge of the mass of all the words that have been mastered is an individual’s frontier; very few words beyond frontier have been mastered Greatest learning takes place in the frontier area Words in the frontier area are similar; here, almost-known words need only a “slight straightening out” Learning becomes inefficient when a learner skips beyond the frontier

The frontier vocabulary system Frontier words: you might know how to pronounce it; you may know one of its meanings. You can master these words with minimal effort, rapid progress

Vocabulary development Words are difficult to remember out of context; it helps to have a body of information with which to associate a word Learn words by concept/illustration – this makes them especially memorable

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Chapter 6 improving your vocabulary

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Chapter 6 improving your vocabulary