Do you keep a notebook for useful words and phrases? And do you review the vocabulary in it regularly?
For example, here's a quick review of some useful vocabulary from the last seven days of lessons on this blog:
- compile a list
- build a repertoire
- the current generation of language learners
- don't know how lucky they are
- they have the Internet at their disposal
- they have access to videos, podcasts and audiobooks
- they have the chance to immerse themselves in the language
- to take advantage of
- overuse of a word
- the charts compare three countries in terms of...
- dispose of harmful waste
- hazardous materials
- are buried underground / are recycled
- know the basics
- rely on pre-prepared meals
- that would surely be a good thing
Remember: Understanding a word is not the same as being able to use it. Practise using the phrases above in your own sentences.
Super great! Thank you so much Simon!
Posted by: tian | April 25, 2015 at 09:37
Simon,
Thank you very much for the great lessons.
I have learned how to use 'overuse' and 'basics' from this lesson, which I do not know before, along with the other nice native expressions.
Posted by: Jing | April 25, 2015 at 10:42
Hi, here I'm writing the vocabularies and phrases I've found useful this week from different sources:
- ads should have conviction value
- strong sentimental value
- to dress immaculately
- without the owner's consent
- a vibrant cosmopolitan city
- vantage point
- have been quiet engrossed
- venomous reptiles
- colors can act as camouflage
- vandalism
- doused the painting with acid
- primary care and prevention
- forced migration
- house-breaking
- pick-pocketing
- grand larceny
- guilty of resulting two gelding
- build the entire house from salvaged and recycled materials
- at the crack of dawn
- go against the grain
- a powerful, elegant idea
- left him in moral quandary
- rugged, windswept coastline
- green-hills just visible through drizzle
- quiet mesmerizing
- rain-soaked gulf courses
- hideously strewn with rubbish
- plastic bags fluttered in the wind
- crackle of crisp packets
- rustle of sweet wrappers
- verdant and lush areas
Thanks
Posted by: Mahdi | April 25, 2015 at 11:53
Dear Simon,
I'm going to sit IELTS test next mouth and I think reading is still my Achilles' heel. I have found your practice method which is "to put keywords in a table" quiet useful. However, my scores strikingly fluctuate in reading.
Could you please tell us how can we develop our time management skill in Reading? Please give us some advice about how can we mange to choose between questions?
Do we need to follow the regular order of questions? Sometimes I feel that I am drawing in paragraphs.
Kind Regards,
Mahdi
Posted by: Mahdi | April 25, 2015 at 12:09
Hi
*I am going to compile a list of all the songs that my friends and I love.
* The current generation of language learners can take benefit of popularity of movies to improve their pronounciation.
* These children don't know how lucky they are to have such good parents.
* Thesedays, college students have the internet at their disposal so they can understand subjects better.
* I found myself immersed in reading this novel for hours.
* I am going to take advantage of this summer holiday to improve my skills in cooking .
* We should take the initiative towards disposal of harmful waste.
* Some internet cables are buried underground.
* Most students relied on pre-prepared meals because they don't have time for cooking.
* Studying for IELTS using Cambridge books would surely be a good thing.
* I think all people should know the basics of resuscitation of unconscious person.
I hope that I used them properly! Anyway I found that interesting!
If there are any mistakes in the grammar or if my sentences look unnatural ( forced),I'll be glad to have them corrected.
Thanks a lot Simon.
Posted by: la violette | April 25, 2015 at 14:16
Dear Simon,
Regards the tables of keywords and their synonyms in reading section you always encourage us to do, do you mean that we do thatwhen we study at home? Or is it useful to do that during real exam? And these tables which we had during our all study , do I have to memorise and revise them always?I mean are they useful for the exam ?
Many thanks for your efforts, it is a huge job you are doing, we all appreciate
it indeed.
Posted by: lana | April 25, 2015 at 18:50
Mahdi,
To be honest with you, your list of good vocabulary sounds a little bit unnatural for native English speakers, if you do not mind I point out. One third of the phrases in your list can not be recognised by a native.
Posted by: Jing | April 26, 2015 at 09:51
Sorry, I mean some of them are unnatural. I like the phrases such as 'vantage point' 'venomous reptiles' 'vandalism' ...
I do admire your memory.
Posted by: Jing | April 26, 2015 at 10:13
Hi Jing,
Thank you very much for your comment. Actually they are not necessarily phrases. Some of them are part of sentences, I have found them in BBC programs.
I try to memorize each word based on its surrounding words and I put some of them in the list above in this way, that may make them a bit unusual but they are used by native English speakers (few of them by Scottish native speaker).
Thanks
Mahdi
Posted by: Mahdi | April 26, 2015 at 13:31
Hi Mahdi,
I did not intend to be negative, but it all comes out wrongly. I think your English is very good because you know lots English words and expressions. I always envy people who can write beautifully with powerful words, read well at a fast speed , as well as speak fluently with a wide range of vocabulary. Unfortunately, I am not in this category.
I have problems with reading too, so I am working hard on it.
I have to practice speaking as well in order to remain at band 7. Please let me know if you are interested in practicing speaking with me and if your speaking level is band 6.5+.
my Skype: jing.xu101
Thanks
Posted by: Jing | April 26, 2015 at 21:24
Hi Jing,
I am a physician.I need a speaking partner.can you suggest a convenient time when I can practice with you? Where do you live? I live in Bangladesh.
Posted by: naz | April 27, 2015 at 06:20
Hi Naz,
Yes, sure. I am based in the UK. I believe you have the same time zone as China. we can have a chat today at 2pm UK time, probably 9pm your time? Let me know your Skype please.
Thanks
Posted by: Jing | April 27, 2015 at 08:07
Hi Jing,
Thanks for your interest I have added your account, but I think you have access to a bonanza if you live in the UK, there is no need to speak with non-natives really!
Thanks
Posted by: Mahdi | April 27, 2015 at 09:06
Lana,
Don't make a table in the exam. Only make them at home when you have plenty of time.
The vocabulary in these tables is definitely useful, although it's impossible to predict what words and phrases might appear in your exam. In general, the more vocabulary you learn, the better prepared you'll be!
Posted by: Simon | April 27, 2015 at 12:10
Hey everyone,
I need someone to practise on a daily basis for speaking part.My skype address is adrlmz you can add me.
Posted by: sly | April 27, 2015 at 12:55
Lana,
According to my personal experience, learning a new language is a gradual process. It means that it is time consuming and sometimes monotonous. I just rely on real English and try to learn vocabularies according to the subject. Believe me or not, I don't know any grammatical point!, but I can write and speak in a comprehensive way.
A few weeks ago I happened to listen to a program on ABC, that was around 30 minutes and the only word that I have learned was 'quagmire', I spent 30 minutes for just one vocabulary but it worth doing. I can't forget this word because I found it in a subject that I am really interested in. So try to listen your favorite programs.
The sentence that I remember from that program is:
''sometime people get stuck in the quagmire of the now and are in denial of their future''
Thanks
Mahdi
Posted by: Mahdi | April 27, 2015 at 21:55
Today I find that reading comment is also a good way of language study, I have known quite a lot new vocabulary on this website as well as many useful and native phrases.Thank all of you!
In last ielts test, i nearly get my required score, but i failed on my writing. I know the reason, so i need to make myself to practice more, to remember and try to use more vocabulary and phrases correctly and easily.
I have make a plan for english study, and just begin it from now, from a new vocabulary and phrase notebook.
Daniel Wang
Posted by: Daniel Wang | April 29, 2015 at 03:20
I do agree with Wang that learning a new language is a gradual process. as an old saying goes 'no one can build a rome for one day', in another words i do believe that practice makes perfect.
I have never taken IELTS exam due to lack of confident. But i will register IELTS exam next month. I still remember Simon's words as puts: regard first IELTS exam as a trial. I like English langauge very much, so hope one day i can master English language!
Posted by: Tian | April 29, 2015 at 08:28