#2 Using Your Dictionary Effectively

Dictionary is one of the most important tools every English learner should have while achieving his/her goals in learning language. To be a good dictionary user, however, it is not enough to know what to use the dictionary for. You must also identify what kind of dictionaty you have or what is the best dictionary for you. First and foremost, if you are ESL learner, so descriptive dictionary would be the best for you. Such kind of dictionaries provides defenition and description of the word. Besides, make sure what way does your dictionary use to tell you how the word sounds: phonetic or syllable, and choose the best for you to avoid doing silly mistakes. Another good advice is to use monolingual dictionary. It explains the meaning and slowly but surely helps to learn English through English. Before using your vocabulary  make an effort and get acquainted with it to know it like the back of your hand. First, read the introduction where you can find important information such as the abbreviations and pronunciation symbols used throughout the entries.To make an improvements try to use dictionary as much as possible to make a progress. For example, look a word up in the dictionary, then look at the words above and below to understand prefixes. Also, randomly take 2-3 words give it a try and make sentance. All in all, you have to explore different ways in using your dictionary and do your best to build you vocabulary.

1) The word I tend to misspell:

conscience   - the part of your mind that  tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong;

2) Words that I often confuse:

accept (verb) - to take sth that someone offers you, or to agree to do sth that someone asks you to do; He accepted her invitation to stay with her.

except (conj, prep) - use to introduce the only person, thing, action, fact, or situation about about which a statement is not true; with the exclusion of; This shop is open every day except Sunday.

clothes (noun) - the things that people wear to cover their body or to keep warm; What sort of clothes was he wearing?

cloths (noun) - materials used for making things such as clothes; She is wearing a dress of the finest silk cloth.

loose (adj) - unbound, not tightly fastened; This tooth feels very loose.

lose (verb) - to stop having a particular attitude, quality, ability; I have lost my appetite.

3) Words that entered the dictionary in 2015:

buzz - excited interest or attention surrounding, for example, a new invention, a recent event or something that has become fashionable;

chatroom - areas on the internet where people can communicate by exchanging typed messages;

content farm - a website that publishes large amounts of low-quality content, or content copied from elsewhere, in order to attract visitors and improve its search-engine rankings;

#1 Techniques for Organising 

Your Vocabulary

We all know how difficult it is to remember new words when learning English or any other language. But it doesn't mean that you have to give up and don't make your dream of learning new language come true. There are a great deal of useful techniques and tips to help you to achieve your goals in learning new vocabulary, and I'll share you some that I find the most useful and would like to use while keeping my lexical notebook. So, let's get started!

1. Think about why you’re learning English
Think carefully is it really important for you  to learn this language, if not, so just don't waste your time in vain.

2. Organize Words By Topic

It will be easier to remember words  which are connected by a common theme. Just separate all the words by topics, for example: cooking utensils, clothes, dwelling, hobby, art and so on.

3. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

It's also quite important rule. If you can't remember a word a or a phrase, so just repeat it until you memorize it. It should help!

3. Stickers

One of my favorite methods. If your housemates don't mind, you could attach labels to objects around the house. Every time you go to use one of these objects, say the English name out loud, and try to use it in a sentence. Be sure to include correct spelling of the word on your labels.

4. Make a sentence
It was already mentioned in a previous tip. Yes, you have to make a sentences with every word or phrase you are trying to remember. It'll help you to learn how to use it and in what sense and context.

5. Phrases and collocations

Don't isolate words which you probably won't remember. You’re much more likely to remember these words if they’re put into phrases or collocations. For example: bake a cake, sing a song, play with doll and so on. 

There are many others methods when learning new language and its vocabulary. Everyone choose the one that he/she likes the most and that is the most effective.  Let all your efforts will be fruitfull!

Link to the text 
http://brightside.me/article/grief-doesnt-have-an-expiration-date-98505/
List of vocabulary items I have selected from the text I chose:

1. heart attack (noun)
2. deal with sb/sth (phrasal verb)
3. emotional coctail (collocation)
4. overwhelming (adj)
5. pull yourself together (phrasal verb)
6. heart-wrenching sob (collocation)
7. takeout/takeaway (noun)
8. act one's age (verb)
9. get away with sth (phrasal verb)
10. unbiased advice (phrasal verb)
11. burden (noun)
12. a shoulder to cry on 
13. cry on sb's shoulder
14. empower (verb)
15. character flaw (collocation)
16. mourner (noun)
17. pick sth up (phrasal verb)
18. bubble up (phrasal verb)
19. force sth on (phrasal verb)
20. twinge of heartache (collocation)

   Here, are the pictures I took from my lexical notebook. I've organised my vocabulary using some techniques I described up in my blog: (put the words into phrases and collocations,pictures, and made up sentences).