by Mustaffa Kamal

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: July 15, 2008

There are many ways and methods in improving your English vocabulary. The English is evolving rapidly and it is the de facto language of the world is it in business and academic studies. As a result of its rapid growth, we sometimes got confuse and got lost in its translations. By having a good vocabulary you are demonstrating yourself as an intelligent, smart and confidence person.

Among the ways to improve your vocabulary is reading. It can be books, newspaper and magazines. Do read books of quality materials such as literature classics such Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, James Fennimore Cooper and others. Do read also magazines which command respects such as National Geographic's, Time, Reader Digest's and others. You will be surprised to find words that you had heard before. Words that we aren't sure with the meanings will then be look up in the dictionary. Although it is a tedious and boring process, we will remember the meaning better. It is advisable to keep a dictionary by your side for reference. Plus you can't go wrong with reading as it is fun.

By playing word games such as scrabbles and word puzzles that appear in the newspaper daily. Playing scrabbles, is not only fun and enjoyable, it also tests your ability, acumen and intellectual in forming words by challenging each other ability to form words. Word puzzles are good in improving your vocabulary as it keeps your mind alert and on your toe. The challenges it provides and gives readers sometimes left us for stump and dumbfounded. The answer to some of the words can sometimes surprise everybody and we can learn from this experience.

By watching television also helps you improve your vocabulary though some people might not agree. Not watching thrash program but good and quality programs such as Discovery channel, National Geographic's, Animal Planets. This is a good way to learn new words though it might be a bit technical but the very least we now know and understand the words. This helps us improve our vocabulary.

Sometime music also helps improve vocabulary either we realize or not. The message it try to reach out through its lyric can sometimes have new words and vocabulary for us to learn.

In conclusion, there many ways to improve your vocabulary not confined to the abovementioned ways only. Through everyday conversations, writing, listening, travelling and others are also ways to improve your vocabulary. It pays to enhance and improve your vocabulary in the long run. You will gain and command respectability, prestige and confidence in the eyes of your peers, friends and colleagues

I end my piece with a quote by Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes which I quote in order to summarize ways to improve and the joy in improving vocabulary, "to be or not to be" and "elementary Mr. Watson".

Happy hunting !

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