How can I learn my Foreign Language Vocabulary?
Some of the following strategies are similar to those in the National Literacy Strategy. Tick the strategies you are using already and keep trying new ways to learn!
LEARNING STRATEGIES / TRIED IT / IT HELPS1 / Write out lists in Arabic/English with the English alongside, and keep copying out the Arabic till I know them without looking back
2 / Test myself by covering up either the Arabic or English
3 / Get someone else (friend/sibling/parents etc) to test me
4 / Say/sing the words out loud
5 / Act out the words as I say them, in front of the mirror
6 / Act out the words with a friend, each one has to guess
7 / Put the words to a familiar tune or song
8 / Make up a song or poem with the new words
9 / Make up quizzes or puzzles for a friend or for me to do later (word searches, crosswords, anagrams etc)
10 / Play hangman or other games with someone to practise
11 / Draw pictures to illustrate the words, then cover up the word and write it, using the pictures as prompts
12 / I say the words out loud over and over again
13 / Write the words on labels to stick them around the house
14 / Read through the words just before going to bed at night, and just after waking up in the morning
15 / Break long words into little parts
16 / I make cards with the words in Arabic on one set and in English on another. Then I play games with them
17 / Teach someone else the new words
18 / Tape the words and listen to them while getting dressed/washing up/tidying your room etc
19 / Separate the articles (el, la, le un, une etc) and words and match them up again
20 / I look at the words and then close my eyes and try to see them in my head (photographic memory)
21 / I use websites such as Madinah.com
22 / Other strategies of my own:
The more strategies you can use, the better you will learn, and the more fun and interesting it will be. Some are:
Visual strategies: Learn by Looking
Auditory strategies: Learn by Listening
Kinaesthetic strategies: Learn by Doing
Tactile strategies: Learn by Feeling
Individual strategies: Learn on your own
Group strategies: Learn with others
ACTION PLANNING
Name______date______
My particular problem / Try these strategiesI can’t remember words / 1- Write out the words several times
2- Think of an English word that sounds the same and do a drawing
3- Ask someone to test you
Jumble out the words and then match the English to the Arabic.
I can’t remember spelling / 1- Write out the words, test yourself
2- Look, cover, test, check
I can’t say the words easily / 1- Repeat the words out loud
2- Put the words to a tune
3- Teach a member of your family or friend
4- Record yourself
ACTION PLAN
Look at your test mark and also how you pronounce the words to see what you need to improve. Circle the answers that apply to you
1-Find difficult to:
a- say the wordsb- Spell the wordsc- Remember the words
2-What do I need to improve?
a- saying the wordsb- spelling the wordsc-remembering the words
3-What new strategies am I going to try?