Tips for remembering vocabulary

[vita32]

Originally Posted by Ramses

Yeah, but I strongly believe that there's a general path someone can (or should) walk in order to become fluent. When you speak English, do you think about grammar all the time? Maybe once in a while, with complex sentences, but not in general. Learning a language is all about growing an intuition. People who say they *need* to understand *each and every* piece of grammar before they can be fluent are talking BS. You can't be fluent when you think about stuff like grammar all the time. Natives just rule regarding their native tongue because they don't think about the correctness of their language.

They grammar-loving people you've come across: are they near-native fluent? I guess not, because that impossible. Sure, you can be a grammar lover, but please only be one when you're already fluent at the language in question (concentrate on the hows first, the whys will come later).

What you're saying is true if the learner is surrounded by native speakers, since the learner can listen and immatate them without thinking or paying attention to grammar.

[Ramses]

Vale, saber la base de la gramática está bien, pero no es fundamental para poder hablar una lengua. Mira: ¡LA BASE! Mucha gente estudia la gramática profundamente, pero no puede hablar bien. ¿Por qué? Porque concentra demasiado en la gramática.

En mi clase de Español la mayoría prefiere estudiar gramática para aprender Español, pero no puede hablar bien. Yo no concentro en la gramática y puedo hablar bastante bien.

[Anna]

Flash cards* work really well and for more difficult words or words that I just cant get into my head...I write the word on several pieces of paper and stick them all over the house (on the fridge, on the front door, inside my wardrobe door, on mirrors etc) so that Im constantly reminded and eventually learn the word! ;-)

FLASH CARDS = on a small piece of card write the Spanish word on one side and your language on the other. Hold all the cards in your hand, Spanish side face up. Look at each Spanish word in turn and try to say it in your language. Check the other side of the card to see if your are correct. If yes, place the card to one side (because you know it now) and if no, place the card to the bottom of the rest of the cards in your hand (so that you will have another chance to guess it). Keep doing this until all the cards are to one side. NEXT!....the harder way....repeat the exercise with YOUR language face up and try to guess the Spanish word. Once all the cards are to one side - you know the words very well!!! ;-)
(This is a very powerful method for learning anything!)

Anna

[CrOtALiTo]

Anna your method is of great useful because, leave me tell you something, you have had a great idea about, how you can learn the words, and any language, I'll do the pieces of papers and I'll stick where I see them over all day, and might I can learn the words faster, thanks for your counsel.

[Ramses]

Good point Anna, but I prefer using an SRS, software based. Because I score myself, the software eventually knows what sentences to show more than others. Very effective.

[poli]

Closed caption subtitles are also a good option. This is a program set up for people with hearing disabilities, but it's a great help for foreign language students. Watch a Spanish language movie with Spanish subtitles. This is good for advanced students. Sometimes accents are hard to understand, but if what the actors say is subtitled in their own language you will get better understanding. When idioms (sayings) are used that you don't understand, present them to the forum for translation. If you can't figure out some vocabulary words, jot them down and look them up.

[geeper]

Originally Posted by poli

Closed caption subtitles are also a good option.

Hago esto a menudo, pero quiero aprender mas de escucho.

I do this often, but I want to learn more by listening. (How close am I? )

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by geeper

Hago esto a menudo, pero quiero aprender más por el escuchar.

I do this often, but I want to learn more by listening. (How close am I? )

Very close. Good job.

You can also say, "... pero quiero aprender más escuchando."

[poli]

El mejor modo de escuchar es hablar con alguien en español. Así aprendes
más rápido, pero si usas closed captioning y escuchar cantantes de canciones tradicionales puedes agudizar su accento y después vas a poder platicar en español mejor.

[CrOtALiTo]

I'm agree with you Poli, if he needs to learn Spanish I think what the better way would be watch movies in Spanish with subtitles in English, if the person doesn't know the meaning of the word or phrase, then what the put the phrases in the forums and between all us can help him if is necessary.