by Gayle Parks

Created on: April 17, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2008

Improving your vocabulary need not be a tedious or overly time consuming task. In fact, you can improve your vocabulary just by engaging in three simple activities that you probably already do on an every day basis. Watching TV, reading and asking questions are three very easy ways to increase your word knowledge and are probably things you do everyday already.

You may not have thought about it before but watching TV can introduce you to many new words. It all depends on what programs you watch. While spending an hour a day watching Survivor may not help you much watching the History Channel can. Likewise, other channels like The Learning Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet or The Food Network offer many programs which will afford you the opportunity to learn new words. Most of the programs shown on these types of channels are likely to expose you to words you are not familiar with. Likewise, they will also likely give definitions of words not common in our everyday language. For instance, do you know what the word necropsy means? Or what the word saute' refers to? These are examples of words you might hear on the Animal Planet and the Food Network. So, watch all the TV you want but be selective about the actual programs.

Another way you can improve your vocabulary is to read. Reading is one of the best ways to improve and increase your vocabulary. Read the newspaper, read the label on your favorite after shave, read books, magazines and pamphlets. There is no such thing as too much reading, especially if you are endeavoring to improve your vocabulary. As you read make note of any words you don't know or you are not sure about. Then, as soon as possible, look them up to find out their exact meaning.

Asking questions is also a good way to acquire new words. Whenever you are in a conversation and hear a word that you are not familiar with ask for clarification. Of course, this may not always be appropriate so at the very least do the same as suggested above, make note of the word so you can look it up later. In class, or at work or while shopping if someone speaking to you uses a word you do not know ask for clarification.

Improving your word knowledge and adding to your vocabulary need not be a difficult task. Just do what we all do everyday. The difference will be that you will now be doing these things with a meaningful and beneficial purpose.

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