{"id":1178,"date":"2023-02-26T12:12:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-26T12:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laurajanebaxter.com\/?p=1178"},"modified":"2023-02-26T12:12:42","modified_gmt":"2023-02-26T12:12:42","slug":"how-to-start-learning-vocabulary-in-4-steps-beginners-free-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laurajanebaxter.com\/?p=1178","title":{"rendered":"How to start learning vocabulary in 4 steps: beginners (free resources)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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So you’re a complete beginner and you want to learn a foreign language. How do you get started? How can you start learning vocabulary (and, crucially, how can you do it for free)? Which resources should you start with? Firstly, congratulations. You’ve done one of the toughest steps: actually getting started with learning the language you’re interested in. In this post, I’ll explain how you, as a beginner, can learn vocabulary in 4 steps, with free resources I’ve used myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is learning vocabulary so hard?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the previous blog post<\/a>, I talked about why it feels so difficult to learn vocabulary. Basically, there’s just so much of it. It’s like you have to retain in your head a way of referring to everything (literally). At times, when you listen to a foreign language, it feels like hearing spies talking in code. You’ll only get to the meaning if you can manage to decipher and crack their encrypted words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We said that the problem of learning vocabulary comes with three key aspects: how to…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. expose yourself to a new word you\u2019ll actually understand,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. get it to stick in your head, and <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. learn it so that you can actually use <\/em>it.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In the previous blog post<\/a>, I explained how you can absolutely nail <\/em><\/strong>number (3). How? By focusing on acquiring lexical items<\/em><\/strong>, not memorising individual words. If you’re not sure what the difference is between a word and a lexical item, check it out here<\/a>. In my experience, it turns out that (2) doesn\u2019t automatically lead to (3). Just because you have the word memorised, doesn\u2019t mean you can actually use it<\/em> in conversation. Today I’ll talk about number (1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to expose yourself to new words you\u2019ll actually understand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You can’t learn new words if you’ve not first been exposed to them. So, how do you find vocabulary? Well, sure, you could look words up in a dictionary<\/a>, or you could plug English words into Google Translate and try to memorise the result. But there are definitely better methods. First, you need to expose yourself to new words, then you need to remember them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tip 1 for learning vocabulary: Duolingo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Start with Duolingo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    For most languages, when learning vocabulary, as a total beginner, I think Duolingo is a great place to start. It\u2019s free, and keywords are repeated over and over to make sure that you\u2019ve remembered them from previous lessons. Plus, it enables you to pick up vocabulary in context. This means, when you start using the words to speak and write, you’ll know how to use the terms in sentences. Also, Duolingo “gamifies” the early stages of language learning and gives you messages of encouragement, both of which help you to stay motivated and build a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tip: for the free version, if you’re learning a language with a Latin script (i.e. it uses most of the same letters as the English alphabet) I highly recommend using the desktop version. On the desktop, you’re not held back by adverts, and you get more opportunities to write full sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tip 2: Learn vocabulary in authentic situations with EasyLanguages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Watch the “Easy Languages” YouTube series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Do you want to start learning vocabulary with a resource that is more authentic? Easy Languages is a series of YouTube channels, designed for beginners and low intermediate learners, where native speakers use the language naturally in basic conversations. It’s a brilliant way to expose yourself to the language. It comes with captions in the target language and subtitles in English. The videos are short clips of only a few minutes long. The vocabulary is targeted to a specific topic. This makes it easier to guess the words you don’t yet understand, and link together the lexical items with other lexical items often used in the same context. EasyLanguages is a simple way to get a little bit of exposure and listening practise of your target language every day in bite-size chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you’re learning a minority language, it’s possible that there isn’t an Easy Languages series available for it. But, it’s definitely worth checking out, just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tip 3: Learn vocabulary in context with LanguagePod101<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Try Pod101 for your target language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Pod101 is a great place to go to learn new vocabulary in context<\/em><\/strong>. The Pod101 series (e.g. SpanishPod101, JapanesePod101) are a form of easy-access total immersion in your target language in the form of videos. Pod101 divides the videos into different levels, many of which are available and categorised on YouTube. Pod101 caters videos for absolute beginners who have never even heard the language before! How can this possibly work? Well, as always, the answer is: through comprehensible input<\/a> (if you don’t know what this is, check out my explanation in my earlier blog post<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What I like about the Pod101 videos is that they provide a short scenario with visuals, then ask you a question, with multiple choice answers. When they reveal the answer, they go back through the audio to give you another opportunity to pick up why it is the correct answer and reinforce the new vocabulary through comprehensible input. Below, I’ve put direct links to the YouTube pages of some of the languages I know my readers are learning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    JapanesePod101<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SpanishPod101<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    FrenchPod101<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    GermanPod101<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    PolishPod101<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If I haven’t listed your language above, check out the website<\/a> to see if it’s one of the whopping 34 languages<\/a> on offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tip 4: Start learning vocabulary from friends!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Socialise, and make friends with natives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What is one of the best ways to start learning vocabulary? Make friends! Even at a beginner level, I recommend making friends with natives. Does that sound too intimidating? Well, although intimidating, it forces fast growth. If you make friends with a proficient-English friend who is learning the language, when you chat, you’ll be very tempted to revert to English when you’re struggling to communicate and don’t know the right words. However, when talking with a native – particularly one who perhaps isn’t so great at English – forces you to find ways in the target language<\/em> to communicate what you want to say. The great thing about speaking with native speakers, or advanced speakers, is that if you don’t know a word but you can explain the idea to them with your limited vocabulary, they’ll be able to help you by telling you the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I also recommend finding a native speaker because it’s a huge, huge boost to your confidence when you see that you can actually communicate in your target language. When having conversations in the very early stages, a trick I use is to write down keywords, phrases and questions I know so that I reduce the risk of going blank when we talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That’s easy for you to say: you’re a polyglot with lots of international friends. But I can’t do that: I live in the UK and I don’t know any native speakers of my target language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Never fear: the internet is here. With an internet connection and a smartphone, the world of languages is your oyster. I’ve used the app Speaky <\/em><\/strong>in the past to find and connect with native speakers without leaving the comfort of my house, but there are a whole host of options. Check out the options here<\/a> if you’re looking to find a native speaking friend and don’t know where to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Right, now I’ve exposed myself to a bunch of vocabulary (lexical items), how do I actually remember <\/em>them all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Make sure you’re subscribed to the mailing list so that you get the update when I write a blog post on (2): how to get the new word you’ve learned to stick in your head. But, if you absolutely can’t wait for the future blog post, hop over to L\u00fddia Machov\u00e1’s Language Mentoring page<\/a> to get a headstart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    THE GOLDLIST METHOD: Learning vocabulary has never been easier!<\/a><\/blockquote>