Having an extensive vocabulary is one of the most important parts of language learning, but I feel the greatest trouble we have is that we think in our native language when speaking in the new language. We try to translate all the time. If straying away from this concept you will remember the words much better.
In another post I discussed the way I think it is best to start learning a language. Here are some more ideas to help you learn German faster:
Learn German With A Notebook
Get yourself a notebook in which you write all new words you come across. Divide every page in half. Write the German words on the left hand side of the page and the English ones on the right. When learning nouns, remember to write the definite article from the Nominative Case in front of it.
Group the words into sections such as letter groupings and divide the book as such.
Use colour codes for genders, cases or parts of speech. Whichever your heart desire.
Revise this list every night before bed by simply reading through it and keeping the English translations closed so you can test yourself. If you do not have the time to go through all of it, go through a section or a single page. The key is just to revise the words you have learned every day!
Learn German With Flashcards
Similar to the notebook, you write down all the new words on the flashcards with the German on the one side and the English on the other. Also, make three boxed numbered one, two and three.
After making the cards the important part starts; the actual learning… I usually go through all the words trying to memorize them. After that I go through them again, testing to see which I know by looking at the one side and trying to remember the other side. Remove the cards you know, place them in box one and repeat the process with the remaining cards.
On the next day test the cards that are in box one. All the ones that you remember you can move to box two. Now start with the cards that you could not memorize the previous day and mix them with the ones from box one that you couldn’t remember. You can also introduce new words. Do the same as the previous day.
On day three, do the same as day two. Repeat the cards in box one and study ones you do not know with the remaining cards from day two. You can add new cards if you want…
Day four starts the same as days two and three. Go through box one and put the ones you do not know with the ones from the previous day. After that, test yourself on the cards in box two. The ones you know go to box three and the rest to box one. Leave them for tomorrow. Now go back to the words you do not know yet and possibly add some new cards.
Leave the cards in box three for a week before you look at them again. Continue to do what you did on day four for the rest of the week. By the end of the week, the words in box three that you can remember, you can save for when you are bored. The ones you do not know go back to box one.
I would love to hear from you if you want specific posts and please, do tell me what methods of studying you use to learn languages.
xoxo,
Charlé
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