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To teach vocabulary effectively, tutors and teachers must know the skills and methods to use as well as the best approaches. In addition, we need to help our students retain new terms that they can use in their writing and oral communication.

How to improve English vocabulary?

To increase vocabulary, students must not only memorise the new terms, but they must be able to use them in most of their communicative activities. In fact, they must use a new word at least 10 to 16 times before it sinks in.

Teachers must understand that the learning process begins with encountering a word, and it ends when the student can use it based on its correct context. Also, grammar and structure must be tackled to ensure that the student is using the words correctly.

Here are simple tips to help your students increase their vocabulary:

• Use a systematic approach in teaching vocabulary

Students must be encouraged to at least learn new words daily, but it should be in short bursts. This method is widely popular because this is the best way to make it stick. Teachers should commit time during every lesson to focused practice. This will help them have a solid linguistic base of new words and definitions.

When students develop this habit, they can quickly build up their vocabulary in just a few months. The teacher must then follow up by providing them quizzes and tests to solidify the words they have learned.

• Reading for meaning

Reading for meaning is a strategy that can help readers increase their comprehension so they can make sense of challenging texts. In fact, reading is the most effective method to teach vocabulary, and this gives students the opportunity to master phrases found in their book. Some of the strategies that you may use include actively searching for new words during reading and practising these words in a sentence after the reading session.

Although just like physical exercise, you will see better results from consistent and regular practice, which means it must be done every day.

• Word association

This activity is great for large classes and can be done even if you have limited resources. So, the teacher will write a word on the board and the students will write the first word that pops up in their head. However, the words must be related to the one written on the board. After they have written the words on a piece of paper, you will then go around the class and get their answers. If students cannot come up with a word, then this is an opportunity to go over the meaning.

Overall, these are methods that you can use to improve your students’ vocabulary. But the most important part is that they practice new words in their everyday communication. This is the best way to retain those words in their minds. If you would like to hire a tutor to help with vocabulary building, and other English related assistance, contact Melbourne’s best English tutoring service.