Get a GOOD vocabulary list for the test that you are preparing for. Online resources may be useful. The key for this method is repetition. First, find out what you do not know. Then, memorize them by repetition by tricking the brain to recognize the information as very important. The goal is to make the new vocabulry into long term memory using this method.
Step 2
For the first time, read (skimming speed) the entire list from the beginning to end. Check the words that you do not know. You are done for the day.
Step 3
The next day, start with any alphabet letter you want. I started with short ones, V, Z, Q... because it's done quicker and give you a sense of accomplishment. For the words you do not know, take time to understand the word by reading the meaning and word usage in a sentence. No need to write the words more than a couple times.
Step 4
The following day, read the vocabulary list again. Focus on the words you checked earlier. However, this time around cover the meaning part to see if you remember them. If you don't, put a check mark again on the side of the word. Read the meaning and sentences usage again. Do the prior step with a new set of alphabet.
Step 5
Do this step until you cover all the alphabets in the vocabulary list and there are at least 3 check marks for the words that you do not know. This should have taken 1 to 2 weeks working 2 hours a day, 3 to 4 days of the week.
Step 6
Now the number of the words that you do not know would have reduced significantly. From now on, highlight the words that you do not know as you go through the list again. Spend one week (3 to 4 days). Next time around, use different colors. I went from light to dark (yellow to orange to green to blue). When I was done, I had spent 5 weeks (working about 3days a week 2 to 3 hours per day) and the words that I do not know was reviewed at least 7 times.
Step 7
Now, create a separate vocabulary list of the words that you have not yet memorized. In my case, the words were about 10 percent of the entire vocabulary list that I did not know the first time around reading them. Just by carefully reading the words and repeating them, I memorized 90 percent of the original list!
Step 8
Remaining words are, for some reasons, especially difficult for you to master. For these words, use methods such as association and giving special meaning to the words. The more personal, the easier to remember. Group the words into synonyms and antonyms. Studying prefix, suffix and roots of vocabulary is helpful, too.
Step 9
For the last couple of weeks, just review the final list that you made. On the last week, take couple of sample tests. You should be pleasantly surprised to find your score improvement.
For example, learn big and small, open and closed, clean and dirty, same and different, before and after, freeze and thaw, work, play, and rest, buy, sell, and pay, read and write, full and empty, etc. at the same time.
Learn spring, summer, fall, and winter at the same time.
Learn see, hear, smell, taste, and feel at the same time.
There is also evidence that learning begins with a knowledge of "intermediate-level" concepts representing ordinary objects (chair, table) and proceeds up the hierarchy (to furniture) and down the hierarchy (to legs of a chair, or arms of a chair) later.
Learning groups of words that are related through derivation might also be useful, but for some students it is a source of confusion, so you need to be careful about that. (institution, constitution, restitution)
Memorizing vocabulary is probably not a good idea, however, if by memorization you mean sitting down to a list of 100 words and deciding that at the end of the day you will be able to produce translations of each in your native language. You have to use a word in a meaningful way in writing and/or spontaneous conversation about 400 times before its "yours"! So be patient!
Instructions
Step 1
Get a GOOD vocabulary list for the test that you are preparing for. Online resources may be useful. The key for this method is repetition. First, find out what you do not know. Then, memorize them by repetition by tricking the brain to recognize the information as very important. The goal is to make the new vocabulry into long term memory using this method.Step 2
For the first time, read (skimming speed) the entire list from the beginning to end. Check the words that you do not know. You are done for the day.
Step 3
The next day, start with any alphabet letter you want. I started with short ones, V, Z, Q... because it's done quicker and give you a sense of accomplishment. For the words you do not know, take time to understand the word by reading the meaning and word usage in a sentence. No need to write the words more than a couple times.
Step 4
The following day, read the vocabulary list again. Focus on the words you checked earlier. However, this time around cover the meaning part to see if you remember them. If you don't, put a check mark again on the side of the word. Read the meaning and sentences usage again. Do the prior step with a new set of alphabet.
Step 5
Do this step until you cover all the alphabets in the vocabulary list and there are at least 3 check marks for the words that you do not know. This should have taken 1 to 2 weeks working 2 hours a day, 3 to 4 days of the week.
Step 6
Now the number of the words that you do not know would have reduced significantly. From now on, highlight the words that you do not know as you go through the list again. Spend one week (3 to 4 days). Next time around, use different colors. I went from light to dark (yellow to orange to green to blue). When I was done, I had spent 5 weeks (working about 3days a week 2 to 3 hours per day) and the words that I do not know was reviewed at least 7 times.
Step 7
Now, create a separate vocabulary list of the words that you have not yet memorized. In my case, the words were about 10 percent of the entire vocabulary list that I did not know the first time around reading them. Just by carefully reading the words and repeating them, I memorized 90 percent of the original list!
Step 8
Remaining words are, for some reasons, especially difficult for you to master. For these words, use methods such as association and giving special meaning to the words. The more personal, the easier to remember. Group the words into synonyms and antonyms. Studying prefix, suffix and roots of vocabulary is helpful, too.
Step 9
For the last couple of weeks, just review the final list that you made. On the last week, take couple of sample tests. You should be pleasantly surprised to find your score improvement.
Step 10
NOW, You are ready. Go get'em Tiger! :)
From http://www.ehow.com/how_4846395_prepare-gre-building-vocabulary-efficiently.html
There is some research to support the idea that memorizing related words, especially opposites, at the same time, is more effective than memorizing words randomly.
For example, learn big and small, open and closed, clean and dirty, same and different, before and after, freeze and thaw, work, play, and rest, buy, sell, and pay, read and write, full and empty, etc. at the same time.
Learn spring, summer, fall, and winter at the same time.
Learn see, hear, smell, taste, and feel at the same time.
There is also evidence that learning begins with a knowledge of "intermediate-level" concepts representing ordinary objects (chair, table) and proceeds up the hierarchy (to furniture) and down the hierarchy (to legs of a chair, or arms of a chair) later.
Learning groups of words that are related through derivation might also be useful, but for some students it is a source of confusion, so you need to be careful about that. (institution, constitution, restitution)
Memorizing vocabulary is probably not a good idea, however, if by memorization you mean sitting down to a list of 100 words and deciding that at the end of the day you will be able to produce translations of each in your native language. You have to use a word in a meaningful way in writing and/or spontaneous conversation about 400 times before its "yours"! So be patient!
CJ
From http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpMemorizeVocabulary/cxxjd/post.htm, by CalifJim