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Sleep on it.
Study a new batch of words just before bedtime. Your mind is more likely to
retain information received just prior to sleep.
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Vocalize as you learn.
Saying words aloud or hearing somebody else say them helps you to recall
them later. Try reading sample sentences and definitions aloud as well.
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Learn words in the
context of a story.
You remember new words more easily if you learn them in the context of a
brief "story"—an interesting and instructive sentence or short paragraph.
All of the words in Chapter 3 of my book are presented this way; for other
words make up your own stories. Try to include at least two or three
testworthy words in each story.
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Incorporate new words
into everyday conversation. This may seem like hackneyed advice, but it's nevertheless good
advice. Use new words as you converse with friends. Pause to explain what
the word means, and ask your friends if they know any similar or contrary
words. You're bound to discover even more testworthy words this way!
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Review, review, review.
It's not
enough to "learn" a word once. Unless you review it, the word will soon
vanish from your memory banks. (My book is packed with quizzes and word
games to help refresh your memory.)
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