Why English is so Important to me

if you are currently learning English in a school, college or institute of further education, you join approximately one billion other people around the world who are engaged in the same pursuit. However, as you try to memories proper grammar, and try to avoid the mistakes common to most students of English, you may wonder why you are learning the language in the first place.

So, why is English important?
After Mandarin, English is spoken by more people than any other language, and is the native language of more than 350 million people. More people speak English than those who speak the Arabic and French languages combined.

Moreover, English is the international language of diplomacy, business, science, technology, banking, computing, medicine, aviation, UN & NATO armed forces, engineering, tourism, Hollywood films and arguably the best pop and rock music in the world.

English has plenty of words to choose from. In fact, an English speaker is offered the biggest vocabulary of any language with a choice of 500,000 to 1,000,000 words (including technical and scientific terms).

But don’t panic, most English speakers do very well with a vocabulary of around 20,000 words. English can be fun too. For instance, the music of such stars as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson and Madonna has encouraged fans to speak the language of their idols, whilst others have enrolled in English classes to improve their understanding of the dialogs in films and TV shows.

Or perhaps they have embraced English to enjoy the writing of Stephen King, George Orwell or J.K. Rowling. They may even have an interest in speaking English just to converse with travelers from other countries, who communicate by using the English global interlingua while traveling abroad.

Finally, if you are studying English at school, college or university, remember that getting an ‘A’ grade in English is almost worthless, in terms of communication, if you cannot speak the language. Spoken English is used in the best careers, the best universities, and is increasingly being used at job interviews. So like it or not, English is a very important language to learn how to speak.

Being able to read and write in English is not enough

Saying Words

Increase vocabulary by saying words repeatedly

Do you want to increase your vocabulary by up to 10 words everyday? You can do that by using the very simple yet very effective technique of word repetition. There are several ways of repeating words, and in this section, we will show you the different methods you can use in making word repetition a vital tool to increase vocabulary.

The easiest way to repeat words is to simply read them out loud several times a day. Every time you read a word, review its meaning and use it in an example. The more times you repeat words, the faster you will increase vocabulary.

Even if you think you have mastered a word, it pays to keep repeating it for a few more days, for this will ensure that the word stays in your memory for a very long time.

Another method of word repetition is to use the word several times in conversations. Not only will you master your new words faster, you might also be helping your friends increase their vocabulary as well.

You may also try to use vocabulary software programs that have a way of reminding you to read words several times a day. Ultimate Vocabulary, a reliable program to increase vocabulary, has a feature caled Word Messenger that shows you words every few minutes, in the corner of your computer screen, as you work.

When the Word Messenger flashes a word, it also provides the meaning. Ultimate Vocabulary also allows you to click on the word to view more details such as usage examples, related words, and so on. These features and so much more really make Ultimate Vocabulary the best choice to increase vocabulary.

Elaborate on a Meaning

Increase your vocabulary by elaborating on the meaning of a word

Elaboration is a simple yet effective tool if you want to increase your vocabulary. It is particularly useful for improving your word retention skills. When you attach familiar information to an unfamiliar word, that's elaboration. The more you laborate on a word, the more you can remember what it means. There are many kinds of elaboration you can use to learn words faster, but we will only discuss the two most effective kinds: related words and usage examples.

Related words
Related words are simply words that have some kind of connection with each other. The two most significant kinds of related words are those that have the same meanings, or synonyms, and those that have the opposite meanings, or antonyms. For example, take the word strong. One of its synonyms is powerful, and an antonym is weak.

Another kind of related word, which is less common, is the homonym, which is a word that is identical in spelling and pronunciation, but different in meaning. For example, the word match could mean either: a partner; a competition; or that thing we use to light a fire.

Usage examples
Learning a word involves seeing that word as it is used in different sentences and in varying contexts. The more examples you see, the faster you can learn a word. If you seriously want to increase your vocabulary, you can even try using vocabulary-building software which will show you many different examples of a word in action. Our recommended software, Ultimate Vocabulary uses its Word Inspector to do this for you.

There are many other sources of usage examples. You can try the dictionary or the Internet. If you read a lot, you may also see other examples of a word's usage in books.After looking at the examples provided by vocabulary software or dictionaries, it is time to create your own usage example. If you use a word in a context that is more familiar to you, then it is easier to remember that word and retain it in your long-term memory.

How can I use elaboration with Computer Software?
Our choice of software, Ultimate Vocabulary uses an excellent program that highlights the importance of elaboration. Almost every exercise, word game and test included in the Ultimate Vocabulary software program encourages you to use elaboration as a means to increase your vocabulary.

The Word Inspector feature of the program will also increase your vocabulary by elaboration because it actually provides you with a complete list of related words, as well as an exhaustive record of almost all possible usage examples.

Making New Words

Increase your vocabulary by making new words relevant to you

Studies have shown that the more relevant a word is, the easier it is to learn it. If you can attach some kind of relevance to every new word you encounter, you will tremendously increase vocabulary, and at a very fast rate.

In this section, we will show you a few examples of how to add personal relevance to unfamiliar words. If you are creative in making words relevant, then you can increase vocabulary very quickly.

Connect unfamiliar words to more familiar things.
There are many words that are not commonly used in daily conversations. If you want to learn these words, it is very helpful to associate them with things or people you do know. Here are a few examples.

Nocturnal (adj.) means active by night. Since you were a kid, you've already known that owls sleep during the day and are awake at night. This is because the owl is a nocturnal bird.

Or take the word hypochondriac (n.). It may sound technical but when you think of your sister Linda who always thinks she's coming down with something, but is in fact perfectly healthy, that's exactly what hypochondriac means – someone who always thinks he is sick but is not. The next time you see the word hypochondriac, think of Linda and you will remember what it means.

You can associate verbs with things or people that you always see doing the action denoted by the word. For example, ruminate means to reflect upon, or to ponder. The word is easier to remember if you think of Grandpa who likes to sit on his porch at night and ruminate on the events of the day before going to bed.

How can computer software help me make words relevant?
If you are learning a new word, Ultimate Vocabulary can show you several usage examples of that word. You can take your cue from the examples and modify them to make a more personally significant example for you. This will help you learn words more easily and you can then increase your vocabulary faster.

Attach A Mental Image

Increase your vocabulary by attaching a mental image to the words

When meeting new people, you can remember their names with less difficulty if you actually meet them face to face, rather than when you talk to them over the phone or through email.

This is because there is a face attached to the name that you want to remember.
In the same way, your brain will remember a word better if there is a mental image associated with it. You can try creating your own mental pictures to correspond to new words that you are trying to learn.

How does imagery help to increase my vocabulary?
Imagery or creating mental pictures of otherwise unseen words is a great way to increase your vocabulary faster, especially if you are a visual person.

A person's brain is naturally more inclined to remember things with a visual representation, rather than abstract concepts. This is the reason why there are always pictures involved when teaching children new words, so they can remember the words better and increase their vocabulary faster.

What if imagery does not work for some words?
For abstract words, that is, words that correspond to intangible concepts, such as fortitude or resolution, there are other more appropriate methods you can use so you can remember them. Your best bet for these words would be elaboration, relevance or repetition.

Another option is to recite the word aloud and clearly. This will make the word feel more tangible, even if it denotes an abstract meaning.

How does computer software help with imagery?
Our choice of software, Ultimate Vocabulary, presents you with several examples of how a word is used. It also offers lists of related words. These features can help you develop your own mental picture of the word you want to learn, and will help improve your word retention by as much as 670%.

Ultimate Vocabulary can also help you in your word recitation. There is an audio module included in the course that teaches you how to pronounce words accurately.

Listing Unfamiliar Words

Increase vocabulary by listing the unfamiliar words you see while reading

Do you read a lot? Do you read for pleasure or to increase vocabulary? If you are reading to increase your vocabulary, then you must learn the right way of reading that will allow you to increase vocabulary more dramatically.

Most readers do not completely understand what they're reading because they are inclined to disregard unfamiliar words that they read. They simply move on and just read the words that they understand.

How does reading increase vocabulary?
Reading will only improve your vocabulary if you actually read all the words in the sentence. When you pay attention to all the new words you encounter, then that will increase vocabulary.

If you want to increase your vocabulary, it is a good idea to keep a dictionary nearby while reading, so you can consult it whenever you see a word you are not familiar with. This is not always possible, though, and if this is the case, then make sure you have a notepad with you so you can jot down any new word that you see. When you have collected a few words, go and look them up.

Another valuable hint is to read on every topic you can find. Don’t just stay within your usual reading boundaries. Read on science, business, gardening, baking, or electronics. And also read a variety of reading materials. Don’t bury your nose in paperback novels all the time. Read some classics like Shakespeare, different magazines, technical books, or even the newspaper.

The most important aspect of reading though, is to pay attention to every single word you see, especially the unfamiliar ones. Try to deduce meaning from the context, or look them up in a dictionary.

How does computer software improve my reading?
Our choice of vocabulary software, Ultimate Vocabulary, through an amazing program, can not really improve your reading. What the program does is to help you maximize the benefits you get out of reading. Ultimate Vocabulary has many word list functions, and you can customize your word lists to your own preference.

When you feel you have really learned a word, you can either remove it from your word list or set it to "mastered". Ultimate Vocabulary's word lists are very helpful in making you increase vocabulary.

Playing Vocabulary Games

Increase vocabulary by playing vocabulary games

Any word game you choose to play is bound to increase vocabulary. You could play the more traditional word games that have given people loads of fun for many years, or you could try the newer word games that you can find on the Internet. Whichever game you choose, you are sure to notice an improvement in your vocabulary.
What are the best word games to play?

It's quite impossible to determine which word game is the best one because everyone has their own preference. Our personal favorites among the traditional games are Scrabble and Word Factory. Among the newer word games on the net, we find that the most enjoyable are Bookworm, Text Twist and What Word.

Other people prefer to play on their own, doing crosswords and other word puzzles. The important thing to remember when playing is to keep an open mind, and remember all the new words that you encounter. Make sure you look up the new words you come upon, so the word games will not only give you much fun, but increase your vocabulary as well. Here is a list of some popular word games you can try:

* Yahoo! Games
* Gamehouse
* BlackDog's Word Games
* AskOxford: Word Games
* Word Games: Surfing the Net with Kids
* BestCrosswords.com - Daily Crossword Puzzles
* Word games

How can computer software help me increase vocabulary by playing word games?
The vocabulary-enhancing techniques discussed in Ultimate Vocabulary all help you improve on the way you play word games. As you become more proficient in playing word games, you will also be able to increase your vocabulary.

Ultimate Vocabulary also provides you with word puzzles and tests designed not only to increase your vocabulary but also to make your mind sharper.

:: Open Your Minds ::

Increase your vocabulary by opening your mind like a child

Children can learn new words almost 200 times faster than grownups because of their open minds and inquisitive natures. In this section, we will discuss the techniques that children employ that allow them to increase their vocabulary much faster than adults.

What makes children learn so many words so fast?
As we mentioned, children have very open minds and they love asking questions. So whenever they hear or read a word they don’t understand, they ask someone right away. Because their mind is open, they accept the explanation immediately and they retain it in their memory.

Grownups have a much harder time retaining new words in their memory, because the brain naturally develops barriers to learning as people mature. They only learn what they consciously want to learn.

All you have to do to increase your vocabulary the way a child does is develop an open mind. It could be difficult in the beginning but with practice, you will discover that you will increase your vocabulary more and more each week.
What are the things I can do to open my mind to new words?

First of all, when you encounter a strange word, do not pretend that you know it then just keep reading. Admit to yourself that you don’t know the word, and try to figure out what it really means by looking at the surrounding words.

After that, look up the word in a dictionary. If there is no reference available at the moment, don’t hesitate to ask somebody what it means.

Another way to open your mind to new words is to use a vocabulary guide. Ultimate Vocabulary is the best guide that you can find anywhere. It encourages you to open your mind to new words through its many activities and exercises.

:: How to increase Your English Vocabulary ::

Vocabulary Strategies:

1. Open your mind like a child and you will learn words faster.
Children can learn new words almost 200 times faster than grownups because of their open minds and inquisitive natures. In Section One, we will discuss the techniques that children employ that allow them to increase their vocabulary much faster than adults.


2. Playing vocabulary games is a fun way to increase your vocabulary.
Any word game you choose is bound to increase your vocabulary. There are ways to maximize the learning that you get from playing games, and we will teach you these in Section Two .


3. While reading, list the unfamiliar words you see.
Most readers do not completely understand what they're reading because they are inclined to disregard unfamiliar words as they read. While reading, make sure you have a notepad nearby so you can jot down any new word that you see. More details on reading and listing are discussed in Section Three.


4. Attach a mental image to the words.
Your brain will remember a word better if there is a mental image associated with it. You can try creating your own mental pictures to correspond to new words that you are trying to learn. In Section Four, you will learn to create your own imagery for new words.


5. Find a way to make new words relevant to you.
Studies have shown that the more relevant a word is, the easier it is to learn it. If you can attach some kind of relevance to every new word you encounter, you will tremendously increase your vocabulary, and at a very fast rate. We will show you examples of adding relevance in Section Five.


6. Elaborate on the meaning of a word.
Elaboration is a simple yet effective tool if you want to increase your vocabulary. The more you expand on a word, the more you can remember what it means. In Section Six of our course, we will be teaching you the different forms of elaboration.


7. Say words repeatedly.
Word repetition is also an easy but effective method to increase your vocabulary. There are many ways of doing this, and we will show you the different methods you can use in Section Seven.


The Best Program to Increase Your Vocabulary
After trialing recommended vocabulary software programs, we have now chosen the program we consider the best. We believe that Ultimate Vocabulary is the most effective vocabulary building program available. Ultimate Vocabulary is effective, user friendly and innovative. You can also see a review of Ultimate Vocabulary, look at an interview with Ultimate Vocabulary, or check another Ultimate Vocabulary review.

:: Grammar Books ::

Grammar Books

Grammar is the part of the language which deals with the forms and structure of words, and with their customary arrangement in phrases and sentences in spoken and written form.

Grammar is best studied by using a grammar text, not a dictionary. Although dictionaries help, they often do not cover the intricasies of grammar. It is best to have both dictionaries and grammar texts to fully cover the subject. There are lots of English grammar books available to all levels. I have listed here some of the exampleas that you might find interesting

Grammar and Communication for Children (Softcover)
# Presents grammar in a logical, step-by-step sequence with easy to understand illustrations.
List price: US$24.95
Sale price: US$19.96

Grammar and Communication (Hardcover)
Presents grammar in a logical, step-by-step sequence with easy to understand illustrations.
List price: US$62.50
Sale price: US$50.00


The New Grammar (Hardcover, large)
# An understandable and useful grammar book with the complexities removed.
US$125.00


Collins COBUILD English Grammar (Softcover)
This grammar reference has been specially developed for advanced students and teachers of English.
US$26.00

Collins COBUILD Intermediate English Grammar (paperback + CD)
US$22.00

Collins COBUILD Elementary English Grammar
US$20.00

Collins Cobuild Active English Grammar
List price: US$9.25
Sale price: US$8.00

Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs 2nd Edition (Softcover)
Shows how phrasal verbs are actually used, with plenty of real examples; each meaning simply explained in a full sentence.
US$17.96

Collins Cobuild ENGLISH USAGE [Second edition] (paperback + CD)
List price: US$30.00
Sale price: US$24.00