Many of our students ask us: What words should I be learning?
We’re sure you often ask yourself a similar question whenever you pick up your vocabulary notebook or plan your vocabulary learning sessions.
The global experience of learning languages shows that in a lot of language learning settings, a very traditional approach to learning vocabulary is favoured.
This approach involves learning sets of easy, ‘everyday’ vocabulary, such as colours, clothes, animals, parts of the body, and so on, first.
The next step is building on that: learning vocabulary relating to work, looking for a job, expressing emotions. As you progress through the different levels, you probably get to the stage where you’re learning words relating to global warming, politics or science.
Think about it, when exactly did you last use the word ‘elephant’, ‘foot’ or ‘vest’ in your native language or the languages you’re fluent in? Can you remember the last time you spoke to somebody about a ‘board meeting’ or the ‘ozone layer’?
You don’t just go around talking to people about animals, chemical elements or the economy. Unless you’re genuinely interested in these things.
Allow your goals to dictate your vocabulary lists
The first question you should ask yourself to decide which words to learn in a foreign language is: what is your goal? What do you want to be able to do with the vocabulary once you’ve acquired it? What kind of conversations do you want to have with people?
The answer to this question will dictate what specific sets of vocabulary you should be aiming for next.
For example, if you often talk to people about learning languages, museum exhibitions you’ve been to recently, and dramas you’ve been watching on Netflix and you want to form meaningful relationships with people, you’ll need to know how to talk to them about the things you’re passionate about.
So, when learning your target language, ignore words such as ‘bird’, ‘flower’ and ‘tie’ – they’re easy but they won’t add value to your experience of using the language. Instead, focus on vocabulary that helps you explain what a series you’ve been watching is about, how you learn foreign languages and what you think of an artist both you and your conversation partner know.
Be specific with your goals relating to the conversations you want to have in your target language! Don’t just say you want to be able to speak.
Say exactly what you want to be able to talk about!
This will help you narrow down the vocabulary areas that you need to focus on to achieve your goals.
