Best way to learn new vocab?

[Awaken]

I guess all this depends on what level you are. If you are a beginner, I prefer using flashcards and SRS style. The reason is that your vocabulary is so limited that reading things becomes annoying as you have to look up every other word. Once you have a core vocabulary (1000-3000 words), it is much nicer to read the language and add to your vocabulary that way. Or force yourself to write in the new language which leads to looking up words and learning them as well. Or both.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Awaken

I guess all this depends on what level you are. If you are a beginner, I prefer using flashcards and SRS style. The reason is that your vocabulary is so limited that reading things becomes annoying as you have to look up every other word. Once you have a core vocabulary (1000-3000 words), it is much nicer to read the language and add to your vocabulary that way. Or force yourself to write in the new language which leads to looking up words and learning them as well. Or both.

That's exactly what I recommend, with the added benefit you let your wrists "recognize" the words and not only your eyes...

[Peter]

I've got a sheet of A2 paper hanging on my bedroom wall on which I write down Spanish words (or combinations of words) I keep forgetting, and their meaning in large letters. Like this I'm confronted with these words almost daily. Every week or so I start a new list.

Some words currently on it:
disfrazarse de, perezoso, arrepentirse de, aprobar.

I'm also thinking of writing an app that randomly quizzes me from the words I've already learned..

[irmamar]

I think that the best way to learn vocabulary is creating the necessity of words, I mean, everyday one can write down some experiences or feelings that one has had. In this way, one needs these words to explain his/her feelings or experiences. Looking words up in a dictionary and writing them in one's own sentence is a good exercise.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I think that the best way to learn vocabulary is creating the necessity of words, I mean, everyday one can write down some experiences or feelings that one has had. In this way, one needs these words to explain his/her feelings or experiences. Looking words up in a dictionary and writing them in one's own sentence is a good exercise.

Again, by reading a novel, especially about something that you really like, somebody else has been "creative" for you and a novel not only describes feeling or experiences but also situations, articles, clothing etc...

See what I mean?

[spanishplease]

I used to think the best way to build my Spanish vocab was to create flash cards any time I saw a word I didn't understand... but all that really ended up happening was that I became really efficient at flashcard creating

I guess the best way to build your vocabulary is to read, read, and... read more. It's the same way you built your vocabulary in English (yeah... it takes time).

Flashcards do help I was exaggerating a little.

Good luck!