Improving your vocabulary in English - or any language -requires commitment.Writing long lists of new words is not really an efficient way to improve your vocabulary. The technics described in this article will help you improve your vocabulary, but you will need to dedicate yourself to researching and broadening your vocabulary.

　　不管是英语或其他语言，要想增加词汇量就需要付出努力。将新词写成一张长长的清单并不是一种提高词汇量的有效方式。本文中介绍的技巧会帮助你扩大词汇量，但你自己也需要投身其中，研究和扩大词汇量。

　　There are many ways to improve your vocabulary. When working to improve your vocabulary it's important to know your goals in order to best choose the way in which you want to learn.

　　扩大词汇量有许多种方式。当你在试图改善词汇水平时，为了选择最适合你的学习方式，你就得明确你的目标。

　　Reading can be a great way to improve your vocabulary. However, it won't be much help on a vocabulary test next week. Here are a number of methods to help you improve, and expand, your English vocabulary.

　　阅读是一种提高词汇量的好方法。但是，它的效果不是立竿见影的。下面我们介绍多种方法，来帮助你改善并扩大英语词汇量。

　　1. Vocabulary Trees

　　词汇树

　　Vocabulary trees help provide context. Once you've mapped out a few vocabulary trees, you'll discover yourself thinking in vocabulary groups. When you see a cup your mind will quickly relate such words as knife, fork, plate, dishes, etc.

　　词汇树可以为你提供一个语境。当你绘制出词汇树时，你会发现自己开始对词汇群进行思考。当你看见一个杯子时，脑海中就会很快想到相关词语，如knife(小刀)，fork(叉子)，plate(碟子)，dishes(餐具)等词。

　　2. Create Vocabulary Themes

　　创造词汇主题

　　Create a list of vocabulary themes, include the vocabulary, a definition and an example sentence for each new item.

　　列出一个词汇主题的列表，包括词汇、定义以及每个词语对应的例子。

　　3. Use Technology to Help You

　　利用科技

　　Watching DVDs is a great way to help you understand native speakers of English. Using all the fancy optionswatching individual scenes can help make DVD use into a vocabulary learning exercise.

　　看DVD是一个帮助你听懂英语母语者说话的好方法。精心选择一些单独的场景，可以帮助你将观看DVD作为一种练习词汇的方式。

　　4. Specific Vocabulary Lists

　　专门的词汇列表

　　Rather than studying a long list of unrelated vocabulary, use specific vocabulary lists to help you prepare for the type of vocabulary you need for work, school or hobbies.

　　比起将不相关的词汇做成一张长长的列表来学习，专门的词汇列表可以帮助你对工作、学习或爱好中所需的词汇进行针对性的准备。

　　5. Word Formation Charts

　　构词表

　　Word formation is one of the keys to success for advanced level ESL learners. Advanced level English exams such as the TOEFL, First Certificate CAE and Proficiency use word formation as one of the key testing elements.

　　构词法是高级ESL(非英语母语课程)学习者取得成效的重要方法之一。一些高级英语考试，如托福、英语证书考试都将构词法列入重要考点。

　　6. Visual Dictionaries

　　图解词典

　　A picture is worth a thousand words. It's also very helpful for learning precise vocabulary. There are a number of excellent English learner visual dictionaries for sale.

　　一幅图相当于一千个词语。这对准确词汇页十分有用。市面上也有许多优质的图解词典供英语学习者使用。

　　7. Learn Collocations

　　学会搭配

　　Collocations refer to words that often or always go together. A good example of a collocation is to do your homework.

　　搭配指的是经常一起出现的词语。举一个典型的例子：to do your homework

　　8. Use a Corpus

　　使用语料库

　　Corpora are huge collections of documents that can track the number of times a word is used. By using a corpora, you can find which words are often used together with target vocabulary words. Combining corpora use with vocabulary trees is a great way to learn key vocabulary for specific vocabulary target areas. You can get started by visiting the British National Corpus.

　　语料库是一个大量文件的集合，可以让你发现一个词语使用的次数。通过使用语料库，你可以发现一些经常与目标词汇使用的词语。将语料库和词汇树结合起来使用，是学习目标领域专业词汇的好方法。你可以访问从British National Corpus开始。

　　Tips:

　　建议

　　1. Use vocabulary learning methods to focus quickly on the vocabulary YOU need to study.

　　使用词汇学习方法，来帮助你快速将精力集中到需要学习的词汇上。

　　2. Don't make random lists of new words. Try to group words in themes. This will help you memorize new words more quickly.

　　不要毫无章法地创建新词列表。将它们按照主题进行分组。这样就可以帮助你更快地记住新词。

　　3. If you have the time, and even if you think you don't have the time, try to add context. Writing a few example sentences using new vocabulary will help you remember the words in context.

　　如果你有时间，或者即使你没有时间，都要为自己创造一个语境。用新词语写几个例句，可以帮助你在语境中记住词语。

　　4. Keep a vocabulary notepad at hand whenever you are reading in English.

　　不管什么时候进行英语阅读，都要在手头准备一个笔记本。

（编辑：何莹莹）