Time to Read
Reading is one of the most effective ways of improving vocabulary. If you are doubtful, then talk to a person who is well read and another who doesn't read much. You will see a marked difference.
The well-read person will seldom stop due to lack of a word. When somebody uses 'you know' or 'like' in every sentence, it means that he or she doesn't have an adequate vocabulary. Nobody should use more words if they can do with less. An improved vocabulary makes you precise and articulate. One way to learn new words you encounter when reading is to use online books or audio books. |
Reading Tips to Improve Your Vocabulary
- Construct vocabulary trees from short stories or articles you are reading.
- Build mind maps based on the stories or articles you are reading.
- Photocopy a page or an article and highlight all the words you do not understand. Look up those words and add them to your vocabulary diary.
- When you come across a word you do not understand, first try to understand based on context.
- Focus on prefixes and suffixes and find examples in a text you are reading. Underline and try to understand based on the prefixes or suffixes. Try to come up with the antonyms. These are words with an opposite meaning and are often related (unhappy - happy, misinformation - information).
- Read a short story and try to retell or rewrite the story using as much vocabulary from the story as possible.
- Note
down nouns and adjectives you do not understand. Use a thesaurus to
help you find synonyms to these words.
Finding synonyms will help you learn groups of words with similar meanings.
Gutenberg Reading Library
You can read many excellent books from websites like the Gutenberg Library.
Download excellent books by famous authors at http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top
If you want to choose a genre or topic, try http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=subjects
Download excellent books by famous authors at http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top
If you want to choose a genre or topic, try http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=subjects
Audio Books
If you want to listen and follow the text use the audio book options at http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/categories/1
If you download the mp3 files and the pdf files, you can read and listen to the stories being read by actors. See the example below:
If you download the mp3 files and the pdf files, you can read and listen to the stories being read by actors. See the example below:
Open and play or Save the file below and listen to the short story from Aesop's Fables being read as you follow the text from the book (left).
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