Lesson 1: Keeping a Vocabulary Notebook
Strategies for Vocabulary Learning & Retention (A2)
Welcome to our A2 series on learning strategies! When you learn many new English words, where do you put them? It's easy to forget them. The most important tool for any serious language student is a vocabulary notebook1. This lesson will teach you *how* to create and use one to remember words forever.
Why Keep a Vocabulary Notebook?
- It's Your Personal Dictionary: You create a dictionary of only the words *you* need and want to learn.
- Writing Helps You Remember: Physically writing a word helps your brain remember it much better than just reading it.
- It Keeps Everything Organized2: All your new words are in one place, so you can review3 them easily.
- You Can See Your Progress: Looking back at old pages shows you how much you have learned, which is great for motivation!
What to Write for Each New Word
A good vocabulary entry4 has more than just the word and the translation. For each new word, you should include these four key parts:
- The Word & Pronunciation: Write the English word clearly. Next to it, write a simple guide to help you say it.
Example: Bicycle (by-si-kul) - The Meaning / Definition5: You can write the Khmer translation (កង់) and/or a simple English definition (a vehicle with two wheels).
- An Example Sentence: This is the MOST important part! Write a sentence that is personal to you.
Example: "My bicycle is blue." or "I ride my bicycle to the market." - A Picture: Draw a small, simple picture of the word. A quick sketch is perfect. It does not need to be a work of art!
In Conversation
A teacher looks at Srey's new vocabulary notebook.
Teacher: Srey, I see you are writing in your notebook. What are you doing?
Srey: I am starting my vocabulary notebook like you suggested.
Teacher: Excellent! Let me see your first entry.
Srey: For the word 'delicious', I wrote the Khmer meaning, 'ឆ្ងាញ់'. Then I drew a picture of a happy face eating soup.
Teacher: That's a great visual aid! What about an example sentence?
Srey: I wrote, "My mother's Amok is delicious."
Teacher: That is a perfect entry! It has the word, the meaning, a picture, and a personal example sentence. If you review this page often, you will never forget that word.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. What is the MOST important part of a vocabulary notebook entry?
- a) A perfect drawing
- b) A personal example sentence
- c) Using a blue pen
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) A personal example sentence
2. Besides the word and its meaning, what two other things are very helpful to include?
- a) The date and time
- b) A picture and an example sentence
- c) The page number and your name
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) A picture and an example sentence
3. Why is writing words down in a notebook a good strategy?
- a) Because it uses a lot of paper.
- b) Because the physical act of writing helps your brain remember.
- c) Because it looks nice for the teacher.
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) Because the physical act of writing helps your brain remember.
edit Your Mission
- Start Your Notebook: If you don't have one, get a notebook today that will be your special English Vocabulary Notebook.
- Create 5 Entries: Choose 5 new words you learned this week from any lesson. Create a full entry for each word using the four key parts: Word, Meaning, Example Sentence, and Picture.
- Review: Your mission for this week is to open your notebook and review your 5 new words for just two minutes every day.
book Lesson Glossary
- Vocabulary Notebook (noun phrase) - Khmer: សៀវភៅវាក្យសព្ទ (sievphow veakysap) - A special book where you write and practice new words. ↩
- Organized (adjective) - Khmer: រៀបចំ (riəp châm) - Arranged in a neat and logical way. ↩
- Review (verb) - Khmer: រំលឹក (rumlœk) - To study something again to refresh your memory. ↩
- Entry (noun) - Khmer: បញ្ចូល (bɑnchol) - One item written in a list, dictionary, or notebook. ↩
- Definition (noun) - Khmer: និយមន័យ (niyumnəy) - The meaning of a word. ↩