4 simple steps to boost your English vocabulary (in 17 minutes a day)

Has this happened to you, too?

You need to answer a question in English about your work and you know what you want to say or write.

But you can’t find the words to say EXACTLY what you mean. Like me in French. I want to explain how tasty a handcrafted chocolate is, but the only word I can think of is “bon”.

And it’s sooooooo frustrating.

How can you fire up your English vocabulary to be better than good enough?

Here are two speedy ways I use – one relaxed and the other active.

How to relax and grow your vocabulary

While reading, you can often figure out the meaning of new words from the context. Have you noticed?

Let’s say you come across “an inveterate art thief” and the story talks about all the paintings she’s stolen over many years. So you guess that “inveterate” has to do with having a long-term habit. Later you read about “an inveterate smoker” and you know you’re on the right track.

Research tells us we have to come across a new word 7 times to grasp its meaning. So you have to read often to keep meeting your new words.

But what should you read?

Read what’s enjoyable and what lights you up. This relaxes your brain. It becomes open to absorbing new words, phrases and expressions. And it’s not busy repeating “This is boring, I don’t like it”.

So what puts a smile on your face? Do you like art? Find reviews of exhibitions. If you knit or crochet, follow a blog on handcrafts. Read what’s fun for you.

Now, thanks to relaxed reading, you can understand the meaning of more words.

But can you use them?

Correctly and confidently?

Probably not.

To conquer this hurdle, try training your CORE: Collect, Organise, Review and Express.

4 easy steps to learning words

CORE helps you recognise and use new words with confidence. The four steps are:

1. Collect words, phrases and expressions during the day. These words could describe your work or hobby. Or more basic phrases like how to politely end a conversation. Write them in a small notebook you carry with you or put them into your phone.

2. Organise your words in a bigger notebook or an app. You can have topics: photography, jewellery, hiking, etc. Or functions: giving feedback, taking a case history, updating a project, etc. You can use mindmaps, lists, flow charts, etc. The more visual and colourful, the easier to remember your new words. Make sure to check the pronunciation. And what about the tiny words (the, in, to, by, from) that partner with the phrases?

3. Review by skimming, saying aloud or rewriting. Do you keep forgetting something important? Make a paper flashcard or use a phone app. Then you can revise whenever you have a free moment.

4. Express yourself via speedwriting and speaking to practise your new vocabulary. You can also write scripts of imaginary conversations, like what you could say when meeting new people.

How I train using CORE

I’m learning French, and I want my French to dazzle.

I collect words and expressions that leap out at me with the Notes app or the camera on my phone. As I’m not in France, I rely on podcasts, internet TV, movies, magazines and books. I also swipe from text messages, emails and video chats with French friends.

In the morning I transfer what still grabs me into my notebook. My topics include food, books and basketball. My functions cover talking about likes and dislikes, what to say for special events like a new baby, etc. I tend to use mindmaps for topics and lists for functions. If I’m not sure of the pronunciation, I check online.

Next I review by going over all the phrases for a topic and highlighting what I can’t remember. Or I cover up half a phrase to see if I can finish it accurately. I might redo a mindmap and compare it with the original.

Finally I choose a topic that I need to improve or that I feel like practising. So I might speedwrite about health for 5 minutes or talk out loud about chocolate for 6 minutes.

All done in 17 minutes, more or less.

Some days I just focus on one or two of the steps. Of course I also skip days. But I now have a routine to add and play with new words and phrases.

Your challenge in 17 minutes

Try this habit of collecting, organising, reviewing and expressing new vocabulary for 21 days. See how many new words and phrases you can learn and use.

You’ll be astonished how much fun the process is.

Give CORE a go.

And easily expand your vocabulary in 17 minutes a day.

Got any questions about learning vocab? Get in touch and I’ll answer your question in my next blog post!

Or learn more about improving your vocab by relaxed reading here.

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