A ‣ What do you do?
This is what some students do.
RAFAEL: I write down new English words and phrases in my notebook, and next to each one I write a Spanish translation.I usually write down if a word is a noun, verb, adjective, and so on.
KAZUO: I sometimes write a word in phonemics because English pronunciation is very difficult for me. But my notebook is a mess [nothing is in a good order; syn untidy]. I like to draw pictures.
EUN: I sometimes make a note of new words in my notebook, but I often forget [don’t remember]. I usually write a translation, and sometimes I write example sentences as well.
ANDREY: I’ve got a notebook. I don’t use it much but when I do, I try and list words by topic, so I put all the animals together, and all the clothes words together, and so on. I find it’s easier to remember the words this way.
DONATA: I note down new words and phrases. Sometimes I translate them into Polish, and sometimes I write an explanation [a description of what something means] in English if it is not difficult. For example: kitten – a very young cat
B ‣ Tips for your notebook A tip is a piece of advice to help you. Here are some tips for your notebook.
- Put words from one topic in the same place, e.g. food in one place, clothes in another, etc. Don’t mix them up [put them together with no order]. You can also have grammar topics, e.g. ‘uncountable nouns’, or a page for words that all have a connection, e.g. words and phrases that were all in a story you read in English. Some words and phrases will go in more than one topic.
- If you can’t find a topic for a new word or phrase, e.g. useful or in particular, put them in a different place in your notebook, e.g. a page for each day or each week, or perhaps one page for every English lesson you have. Write the date clearly at the top, e.g. Monday 14th May.
- When you write down new vocabulary, write a translation if it is necessary [you need it; opp unnecessary], but also write the meaning in English if it is possible, or draw pictures.
- If possible, add synonyms, opposites, other parts of speech, etc.(See Unit 1.)
awful adj = terrible (syn dreadful)
enjoy v = like something and get pleasure from it n = enjoyment adj = enjoyable - Example sentences help you with the grammar of a word, or with word partners (collocations).
I enjoy living in a big city. (NOT I enjoy to live in a big city.) (See Units 87–8.)
I spent two weeks in Rome. (NOT I passed two weeks in Rome. You spend time in a place.) (See Unit 74.) - Remember, words often have more than one meaning that you need to know, e.g. a tip is also money that you give, for example, to a waiter for serving you in a restaurant.
