about study vocabulary

Question

How do study vocabulary the best effectivy?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

chaunguyenptvocabulary

I've always done well with language cards.

I write a word or phrase on both sides of the card. On one side it's in the language I'm learning; on the other side it's in my own language. I review the cards many times a day. Using this method, you can learn 100 words or phrases in a week, maybe more.

Of course, that doesn't mean you can speak the language. You have to practice using the words you learn. Otherwise you will soon forget them.

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

Learning isolated words isn't a very good way to learn a foreign language. It is far better to learn the words as they are used in sentences. That way you learn to use the words in the right context, and this is important because a word very rarely has an exact equivalent in another language. Like the words of other languages, English words often have many meanings.

I'll give you an example. All the underlined English words can be translated as "pitää" into Finnish:

He always wears a hat.
I must go now.
Where does he keep his books?
He considers you a good runner.
He likes it.
I want to hold your hand.

So, if a Finnish student of English were to learn that "pitää" is "keep" in English, he would end up making lots of mistakes and many of his sentences wouldn't be understood at all.

CB

CalifJim · Answer

Cool BreezeAll the underlined English words can be translated as "pitää" into Finnish

Now that's perverse!

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

I wonder how many words in Finnish, or any other language, can be translated into 'set' in English.

CalifJim · Answer

Worse yet, "get".

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

fivejedjonI wonder how many words in Finnish, or any other language, can be translated into 'set' in English.

Since you asked, I took a look at Random House Unabridged Dictionary. It gives 119 meanings for "set". I don't have the time to count all the possible translations, but I'll give you a few in which "set" is a verb.

Who set this vase on the table? Kuka pani tämän maljakon pöydälle?
He set his house on fire. Hän sytytti talonsa palamaan.
We set a trap for the mouse. Asetimme ansan hiirelle.
I set the table for dinner. Katoin pöydän päivällistä varten.
We have to set a wedding date. Meidän pitää päättää hääpäivästä.
The sun sets early in winter. Aurinko laskee aikaisin talvella.
We set out early. Lähdimme matkaan aikaisin.

I just set my watch back one hour. Siirsin juuri kelloani tunnin taakse päin. (Very true! 4 o'clock a.m. marked the end of daylight saving time in the EU.)

Winter is setting in. Alkaa tulla talvi.

They have set up their tent. He ovat pystyttäneet telttansa.

As Jim says, there are even more uses for "get". The fact that many short words such as set, get, go, come and so on have dozens of meanings makes it easier for foreign learners to learn English. Learning new meanings for familiar short words is of course much easier than learning new polysyllabic words.

CB

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