Creating a Vocabulary Notebook

Vocabulary is one of the most important areas for an advanced learner of English. It not only helps you show your level and knowledge to others, but also understand readings and listenings with greater ease. Unfortunately, learning new vocabulary can be tough. Many students take the approach of creating a vocabulary notebook which can be organised into different sections. This helps both in the moment that you record the new words and when it comes to studying the words later on.

There are a variety of methods to record words in a good vocabulary notebook. With these methods you will quickly be creating a beautiful vocabulary notebook that is guaranteed to help you remember those difficult words. I recommend using the ideas that appeal to you and make the most sense.

Method 1: Categories

When you come across a new category of vocabulary, create a page in your notebook dedicated to that category. These can come from the text book or you can create the categories yourself. For some categories it's a good idea to include similar words and example sentences. It's even better if you can relate the example to your personal life because this will help to create a mental connection. For example, if the category is jobs you might want to organize it like this:

teacher - to teach (verb)
Example: My favourite maths teacher in secondary school was Mr Kite.

accountant - accounting (noun)
Example: I hire an accountant every year to help me with my taxes.

Method 2: Word families

Word families are groups of words that share a common root. Recording words in their families can be very useful because it will help to give your vocabulary more range. The word transformations exercise in the Use of English paper of Cambridge exams also focuses on this area.

Root	Noun (thing)	Noun (person)	Verb	Adjective
photo	photograph photo	photographer	to photograph to take a photo	photographic
entertain	entertainment	entertainer	to entertain	entertaining entertained
know	knowledge	--------	to know	knowledgeable (-) unknowledgeable

Method 3: Language chunks

Words don't always come alone. Many times we use words together that if separated, would have a different meaning. When you encounter these chunks it's a good idea to record them in a separate area of your notebook. Examples of language chunks include; "would you like", "get to know", etc.

Method 4: Collocations

Collocations are words that can be commonly seen together. These common connections are extremely important for the Use of English paper. The collocation mandates what words correspond with each other. Collocations should be recorded in a different area of your notebook.

Collocations with take:

- take a bath/shower

- take some time to do something

- take away food

- take an exam

- take turns

and many more...

Method 5: Mind maps

One of the most difficult things to do when writing down new vocabulary is to organize it in a way that is easily accessible later to study. A list of words can appear never-ending to our eyes. A popular way to organize words that helps with this is mind maps. Mind maps start with a central word, concept, or category. This can then be expanded in all directions as more related vocabulary appears. It is more flexible and adaptable than a list. Take a look at this mind map that a language learner has created:

Some students like to create mind maps by hand, while others prefer to do it on a computer. Many programs and applications exist for creating mind maps. Try out www.mindmeister.com or search the internet for mind mapping software.