How to learn words

Three stages of learning a word

Meaning Parts of Speech Usage

Stranger (Knowing a word)

Acquaintance (Understanding the word)

Explain the meaning of the word in your words Categorize the word

Friend (Applying the word)

Use the word in speaking or/and writing Differentiate the word from other related words

What if we stop at the first stage?

Stage 1 Implications 1. we tend to forget the words quickly 2. The more we learn, the more we get confused 3. We will not be able to appreciate the subtle difference between closely related words

Stranger
(Knowing a word)

What if we stop at the second stage?

Stage 2 Implications 1. We might find it difficult to remember words for a long time 2. We might face a problem getting the subtle difference between closely related words

Acquaintance (understanding the word) Stranger

(Knowing a word)

STAGE 1: KNOW A WORD

Stage 1 Know a word

Expropriate
Meaning : to officially take away private property from its owner for public use Parts of Speech: Verb Usage:
The land was expropriated by the state. Legislation was introduced to expropriate land from absentee landlords and redistribute it to peasants. The Bolsheviks expropriated the property of the landowners.

Reference http://oald8.oxfordlearners dictionaries.com/dictionary /Expropriate http://www.learnersdiction ary.com/search/expropriate http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.u k/

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Stage 2: Understand the word Writing in your language. Create your usage statements
By expropriating, we acquire personal property officially from its owners for a common purpose. For example, the act of acquiring the land for laying a road or building a dam is expropriation.
Note: You will find a number of example sentences here: http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/ This will be of immense help for this activity.

Stage 2: Understand the word

Classify the word
Thematic classification of words

For example,
a) b) Words related to personalities Words related to interpersonal relations

It will help you get a better understanding of words since you learn the words along with other related words.

Reference http://connect.greedge.com /sfa/Words/words.php http://connect.greedge.com /sfa/Words/words.php /try on your own

APPLY THE WORD

Stage 3: Apply Use the words in speaking or/and writing

The recent revision of Government land value for property is a bliss for the people who are affected by expropriation of lands for widening the national highways. Now, they will get a lump sum amount as a compensation. Following a strong reaction to the expropriation of agricultural lands for expanding the international airport, the government decided to drop the idea.

Stage 3: Apply
Differentiate the word from other related words

appropriate

misappropriate

expropriate

deprive

divest

Words related to expropriate

Expropriate is a verb
It means to officially take away private property from its owner for public use

How is it different from appropriate?

Appropriate means to take something, somebody's ideas, etc. for your own use, especially illegally or without permission.

How is it different from misappropriate?

It means to take somebody else's money or property for yourself, especially when they have trusted you to take care of it.

Words related to expropriate

How is it different from deprive?
Deprive means to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important. For example, The court ruling deprived us of any share in the inheritance.

How is it different from divest?

It means to take (something) away from (someone or something else). For example, He was divested of his title/power/dignity.

How to remember words

Ways to remember words

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Start enjoying the act of learning new words. Relate the words with the pictures. Associate the words with the words related to it.(create a web). Start using the words in your everyday life. Use in your emails to your SFAs !!! Revise the words regularly.

How to remember words

Motivation is the key
Become interested in learning words. Create a mental image of you getting a full score in GRE. Whenever you get bored/tired, think of 340. You will start enjoying the act of learning new words.

How to remember words

Visual aids
Learn with pictures Relate the words with pictures. Visual long term memory has a massive storage capacity for object details. You can remember words with the help of pictures associated with. Reference http://www.google.co.in/im ghp

Example 1
Equanimity Meaning: a calm state of mind which means that you do not become angry or upset, especially in difficult situations POS: Noun Usage: She accepted the prospect of her operation with equanimity.

Example 2
Crestfallen Meaning: sad and disappointed because you have failed and you did not expect to. POS: Adjective Usage: After losing its last game, the team was crestfallen.

How to learn words Association (roots)

Roots
Let us take the word philanthropist. It is derived from Greek words, phil (loving) and anthropos (mankind). By understanding the root of the word, we can guess philanthropist refers to a lover of mankind. Since we know these two roots, we can easily guess meaning of a number of words created based on these roots. Here are a few words: Philosophy, bibliophile, philology, philately, etc. Anthropology, misanthrope, anthropomorphic, etc.

Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki /Greek_and_Latin_roots_in _English www.etymonline.com

How to make use of GREedge word lists

GREedge word lists

1. Verbal Master words
50 sessions 20 to 25 focus words 5 to 6 related words Usage & Images Vocab test

2. High Frequency words

750 words 10 Sessions 60 to 80 words in a session TC and SE questions based on the words

A word entry in GREedge word list

Vocab test

To request for these slides

What can you do now?

Resources
GREedge Verbal Master word list Vocabulary tests Complete Words (classified) High Frequency words (classified) Normal High Frequency words External
Barron's word lists scrambled: http://www.postech.ac.kr/~gla /gre/a4/33new_scram.txt.pdf Barrons word lists alphabetical order: http://www.postech.ac.kr/~gla /gre/a4/33new.txt.pdf Audio word list: http://www.audiowordlists.co.nr/ Online dictionaries & Thesaurus

6 months + (1 hour per day)

4 to 6 months (1 2 to 3 months (1 hour per day) hour per day)

30 days Less than 15 (2 hours per day) days (2 hours per day) HF words in TC & SE learn 10 days ( 2 hrs a day) HF words in TC & SE learn 10 days ( 2 hrs a day)

Verbal Master word lists and tests -50 days

Verbal Master word lists and tests -50 days

Verbal Master word lists and tests -50 days

High Frequency words in TC and SE learn sessions -20 days Barron's word list -50 days

High Frequency words in TC and SE learn sessions- 20 days Barron's word list -30 days (1.5 hours a day) Revision : 20 days (2 hours a day)

High Frequency words in TC and SE learn sessions -20 days Learn all the new words while answering Questions Revision: 15 days ( 2 to 3 hours a day

Verbal Master word lists 10 days( 20 to 25 word lists) Learn all the new words while answering Questions Revision: 10 days ( 2 to 3 hours a day)

Verbal Master word lists 10 days( 10 to 15 word lists) Learn all the new words while answering Questions Revision: 5 days ( 2 to 3 hours a day)

Revision : 50 days

Revised GRE Toppers Speak

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