HOW TO LEARN ENGLISH VOCABULARY EFFECTIVELY
Keywords:
English Language Teaching (ELT), lexical retention, spaced repetition systems (SRS), Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, word families, Activate–Relate–Use (A-R-U) model, active vs. passive vocabulary, second language vocabulary acquisition, cognitive learning strategies.Abstract
Acquiring and retaining target vocabulary remains a central challenge in second language acquisition (SLA). Traditional methods relying on rote memorization often fail to promote long-term retention or transfer words into active production. This article explores six evidence-based pedagogical and self-directed strategies designed to optimize vocabulary acquisition: spaced repetition, contextualized learning through collocations, mnemonic association, word family exploration, the Activate–Relate–Use (A-R-U) framework, and the strategic transition to monolingual dictionaries. By aligning learning techniques with cognitive memory structures, learners can effectively bridge the gap between passive recognition and active usage. Integrating these systematic techniques into daily instruction fosters sustainable language development, enhances communicative competence, and optimizes cognitive efficiency in English language learning.
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