How do I remember all of this vocabulary?
If you listened, you'd understand!
Do you ever stop speaking?
Once you can walk, start to run!
Vocabulary is an unavoidable part of language learning. It's okay learning that the sentence structure is subject-verb-object or subject-object-verb if you don't know any words that fit into those grammatical structures. So you need to learn some vocab. This could be harder than you realise if you don't approach it right, like learning facts for an exam (When was the Battle of Hastings? 1066.), which could just make it so dull and hard on the brain. Brains aren't really designed for rote memorisation! For example, how do I know that the Battle of Hastings was in 1066? Because here in the UK there was an insurance company called Hastings Direct and they made their phone number into a very brain-drilling jingle. Oh-eight-hundred-double-oh-ten-sixty-six! I will always remember that because one, there was a visual and two, there was an audio connection. Much more effective than a flashcard!
The best initial vocab is probably something called 'semantic primes', all those words that are hard to explain, hard to visualise. They're called semantic primes as some very clever linguists discovered that these... things, words, are universally expressed in many languages. Semantic primes are words like 'I', 'thing', 'big'. Try explaining what 'thing' is without using a word that basically means the same thing! Hard, right?
A word of warning however, these words are concepts and meaning-based rather than object-based. Hence, the word could mean a slightly different thing in your target language in comparison. But, learning words like these is essential to starting to understand all other words if you need it explained.
There are a few ways to learn vocabulary:
Think in whole phrases with emotions/feelings. For example, to remember 'pain', the French word for bread, think 'Je mange le pain' (I eat bread) and imagine yourself eating bread.
Imagine visually the word or action. When thinking 'pain', imagine bread. Your brain will make a stronger connection between 'pain' and the image of bread this way.
Repeat whole phrases again and again. Je mange le pain. Je mange le pain. Je mange le pain until you can say 'Je mange le pain' as quickly as you can say 'I eat bread'.
Try mixing in your new language. Pain is the new bread in your head. When you see bread, think pain. You haven't got a slice of bread out of the bag, it's a slice of pain.
Practice writing. A lot. This one is especially true if your language uses a alternative script to your own language (looking at you, Asian language learners!), as it will help you adapt. As well, it will help with the spelling. At school we were always told to look at the word, write the word, check it and then repeat until we'd got it right. And boring as it sounds, it should help if you really are struggling with spelling a word.
Create flashcards and make them as interesting as possible. Pictures, sound if you're using a computer program that allows you to and colour will always help you remember something. Our brain makes better connections with sound > word and picture > word than consistently translating word > word. Then, carry a set around with you and look over them as much as possible. Little and often is better than 3 hour stints and then nothing for a week!
Use mnemonics. Humourous, shocking, vivid and ridiculous phrases stick in your head better than simple ones. I call it the Hastings Direct effect.
In conclusion, I guess what I'm trying to say is make it as fun as possible. If it's not interesting you're not going to remember it!
