Feel the Word Power: Develop Your Vocabulary

Developing your vocabulary can:

Streamline communication. When you have a greater word understanding you are able to choose the most effective word. Not having the vocabulary to find the right word can create confusion and requires additional explanation;

Provide us with the ability to convey ideas in a more articulate way;

Offer a vocabulary that will see you stand out in the workplace and study environment;

See you held in higher esteem and reputation because of your vocabulary abilities;

Reading is easier and, subsequently, more enjoyable. Sometimes reading can be tedious, but, if we increase our vocabulary, reading can become more fluent and faster;

Vocabulary increases your ability to solve problems and analytical skills (Ediger, 1999).

There are many strategies at hand to increase your word power. Different types of instruction use different methods, such as:

• Highly life-contextualised instruction. This involves instruction that does not use skill based instructional materials, such as skill books and journals. Instead, materials particularly pertinent to the lives of the students and their needs are used.
• Somewhat life-contextualised. This refers to learning which takes place using mostly materials that are relevant to the students’ lives, such as newspapers and flyers. Some skill text materials are used.
• Somewhat life-decontextualised. Learning and materials are more related to skill based instruction.
• Highly life-decontextualised. Instruction uses set materials that are focused upon acquiring set skills. There is basically no use of materials that are specifically relevant to students’ lives (McCaffery et al., 2007).
  

At times in our life we are required to develop different vocabularies. We might need to increase academic vocabulary if we are attending college or university, or we could require vocabulary that increases our entrance test scores. Alternatively, we may have been promoted and our role may require more presentations. This is when business vocabulary is required. Whatever the case may be, vocabulary software can offer a method of increasing your word power quickly and effectively.

One such range of software products is that of Ultimate Vocabulary. Their products include the Success and spelling editions. There is also a product range to help you improve your GRE, SAT, ESL, and TOEFL scores.

References

Ediger, M 1999, ‘Reading and Vocabulary Development’, Journal of Instructional Psychology, viewed 1 February, 2009.

McCaffery, J.  Merrifield, J. and Millican, J. 2007, Developing Adult Literacy: Approaches to Planning, Implementing and Delivering Literacy Initiatives, viewed 17 February, 2009.