Do you know how many times I have heard “I lack vocabulary” or “I forget the words I learn”? So many! Does it happen to you too? Would you like to know a trick to learn Spanish vocabulary faster and better?
In this post I want to share this with you so that you can start putting it into practice today:
- Choose a topic or category, better if it is something you like.
Here are some examples: clothing and accessories, everyday objects, furniture and objects in the house (you can divide them into different environments: the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom, the bathroom, etc.), the food (food, utensils, etc.), body parts, travel, music, sports, the city.
- Plan to learn 3 words per day for 6 consecutive days (nouns – adjectives – verbs).
For example, if you choose “la habitación”, think of 18 words that have to do with rooms (including words that are new or difficult for you to remember).
Day 1: cama – espejo – lámpara / Day 2: mesilla de noche – sábanas – despertador / Day 3: dormir – levantarse – luminosa / Day 4: armario – silla – estantería / Day 5: cajonera – pequeña – cuadro / Day 6: vestirse – cambiarse – guardar.
- Write each word clearly on a post it and place them where you can see them well, in a place where you pass several times during the day. Ideally, you should stick each word you want to remember about “the object in question”, but if this is not possible, you can use an image or represent the situation by drawing it on a piece of paper and placing the post it there.
- At least twice a day, read the words out loud. It is important that you listen to yourself pronounce it so that you can also become familiar with its sound.
- On day 7 try to write in a notebook a meaningful sentence that contains that new word. It doesn’t matter how long it is, the important thing is that you include it in a “meaningful” sentence and check that there is agreement between the gender and the number of words that accompany that noun (articles, adjectives, verbs). Then read them out loud.
Examples: Mis sábanas son blancas. / El despertador suena a las 7:00. / Mi ropa está en la silla.
- At the end of the week, remove the post it and try to say the words that were written without reading them. It will definitely be much easier for you than you thought.
When you are done, you can choose another theme and repeat the same procedure. You will see how little by little you will increase your vocabulary without much effort.
Do you want to “go further”? Think about the different contexts in which you can use the words you have already learned and write some sentences.
Example: Las sábanas del hotel están limpias. / No me gusta dormir al aire libre. / En mi trabajo hay muchas sillas.
Remember that it is important that you continue using those words the following days, even if you have changed the subject, so that they are definitely part of your life.
Did you already use this trick? Do you know others? If you feel like it, it would be nice if you share them here.
Thank you very much for your attention and see you in the next post!