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If you’re an English learner, I’m sure you’ll appreciate some strategies on how to improve English vocabulary.
After all, you can’t speak or write effectively without a strong and vast level of vocabulary. I mean, that’s what you want, right – a better English vocabulary?
You want to sound natural, maybe even impressive with your vocabulary. Or, you just don’t want to get stuck in an awful pause, searching for the right word to express yourself (the Vocabulary Void).
What it feels like when you’re missing key words from your vocabulary
I’m sure you can relate to situations like this. You’re in the middle of a great conversation. You’re feeling good about your English, making small talk with your teacher or English speaking friend. Then – poof! – the perfect word just disappears from your mind.
That awkward pause. The fumbling for a synonym that doesn’t quite fit… It’s frustrating, right? It feels like the Vocabulary Void has swallowed your words whole, and suddenly the Confidence Crusher jumps in to make you doubt yourself.
The Vocabulary Void and the Confidence Crusher are two of the English Villains from my post on the common English challenges ESL learners face. The Vocabulary Void represents the lack of vocabulary in the moment when you need it. Conversely, the Confidence Crusher is the lack of confidence that makes you not want to use English for fear of making mistakes.
But here’s the good news, my friends: that feeling of getting “stuck” for words isn’t a sign that you’re a bad English learner. Often, it’s a sign that your vocabulary building hasn’t been as clear or as systematic as it could be.
Today, we’re going to look at ways to improve your English vocabulary. This way, you won’t get caught in the Vocabulary Void. As you grow your vocabulary, you’ll get stuck in these situations less and less. The result is you’ll feel much more confident about your English.
Why You're Stuck in the Vocabulary Void: Understanding the Causes
As I have explained in my post on English vocabulary problems, the Vocabulary Void is that moment you get stuck looking for the word to complete your thought.
It could be a word you know well, but have forgotten in the moment. On the other hand, it might also be the total absence of the word or expression – you simply lacked the word in your vocabulary.
In reality, there are several problems learners face in missing the right word, so let’s look at three of those problems here:
- The topic-to-topic vocabulary trap: Non-native learners get most of their vocabulary from topic-based ESL textbooks. Yet these textbooks often fail to introduce you to non-topic associated words and expressions. We native speakers spend our time at school doing worksheet after worksheet of vocabulary developing exercises.
- The random input trap: You actually pick up lots of words from media you consume, reading, videos, songs, but that vocabulary stays passive in your memory. You know the word when you hear it, but you struggle to use it yourself. This is because those words often lack context for you and you don’t practice them enough.
- Learning without exercised practice: When you learn a new word, what do you actually do to really exercise it and commit it to memory? In our own native language, we use flash cards, a notebook or journal, dictionaries, and most importantly, we write sentences with the new word. If you’re not doing these activities, you’re not going to remember most of it.
Story: How I learned English vocabulary as a native speaker in school.
(The scene opens with TEACHER JON and a female STUDENT in a video call setting. The student looks a bit frustrated, perhaps gesturing vaguely at her learning materials.)
Teacher Jon: Hey, is that your English book from school? What are you learning in your high school English class? Anything similar to what we’re doing?
High School Student: No, not really. Just learning some vocabulary connected with jobs. My school, they give us topics, you know, new words for travel or work, but it’s not helping me to speak better. How did you learn English vocabulary as a native speaker? Did you do something different at school?
Teacher Jon: Ah, a great question. It reminds me of my seventh grade English teacher, Mr. Clarkson. He was a very old guy. And his classes, well, they were extremely boring. Probably nothing like what you guys do in school here.
High School Student: Boring in what way?
Teacher Jon: Every day we’d walk in and there it was. A vocabulary worksheet and a dictionary on every desk. You finished one? He’d check it, reach into his file cabinet, and pull out another. I swear it was an endless supply. My classmates learned to work very, very slowly. They were wise to it. But me, I wanted to see if he’d ever run out.
High School Student: That’s it. Just one vocabulary worksheet after another.
Teacher Jon: So, I raced through them. We begged him for something else. Reading, creative writing, anything. But no, it was mostly just one vocabulary sheet after another one. Looking back, that relentless systematic practice, boring as it was, gave me a massive vocabulary. Words I share with my students today, it was the boring secret to my native vocabulary.
High School Student: You know that does sound boring.
Teacher Jon: Exactly. So, while it wasn’t exciting, that daily deliberate exposure to words systematically, one after another, day after day, that’s how we build vocabulary as native speakers. It creates the foundation. I mean, isn’t that what you do in your Polish lessons?
High School Student: You know, I think you have a point. So, why don’t we learn English vocabulary like you do as native speakers?
Teacher Jon: Well, I think the point of English for non-natives is to become communicative. You need the kind of words for the limited situations you might face English in life like travel, sport or work. But we native speakers need the total package. So we learn vocabulary our whole school career not based on any topic but just according to these state approved lists. By the time we graduate from school, we all have a pretty strong vocabulary.
High School Student: So then how can I start learning vocabulary like that? I hate getting stuck. That’s a great question.
Teacher Jon: Well, um I think the best way is to buy some vocabulary workbooks that are intended for American or British school-aged students. These vocabulary exercises are different. They make you think more and they will expose you to words you probably couldn’t imagine knowing if you didn’t learn it from a native speaker.
High School Student: That sounds like a great plan. So, where can I find these kinds of books? Perhaps you can share some of these worksheets at the start of our lessons.
Teacher Jon: Of course, I happen to have several of these workbooks as resources. I’ll start doing some of these exercises with you beginning next week.
High School Student: Thank you. I think that’ll really help me.
Proven Strategies: How to Improve English Vocabulary Systematically
To truly improve English vocabulary, you need to be systematic. That’s what it was like for me as a student in my Los Angeles middle school – systematic.
Native speakers don’t just magically know all words; we learn through consistent input and structured practice. You can too.
Let’s observe a few strategies on how you can improve your English vocabulary.
Strategy 1 on how to improve english vocabulary: Build from the Ground Up (Learning "Horizontal" Vocabulary)
Many everyday English words don’t fit neatly into specific topics. Think of these as “horizontal” words – they cut across many subjects. Native speakers learn these from core vocabulary lists in school.
- How to do it: Use dedicated vocabulary workbooks that systematically teach you these common words. They expose you to words in many contexts through exercises. As you work through these, you gradually fill in those common gaps in your English vocabulary.
- My Recommendation: Look for workbooks that focus on common academic vocabulary, high-frequency words, or general English lists, rather than just specialized topics. At this point, I could just recommend you some workbooks. However, you’d need more than one and spread out over time. If you’re truly interested in growing your vocabulary, my Native English Daily subscription is your best choice. There, I curate and share the a combination of parts-of-speech learning and vocabulary growth by parts of speech. It’s a truly inclusive way to build your vocabulary.
Strategy 2 on how to improve English Vocabulary: Expand What You Already Know (Word Building)
Sometimes, you know a basic word, but not how to use its related forms. This is about understanding word families. For example, if you know “short” (adjective), you can learn “shorten” (verb) and “shortness” (noun).
What makes word building important to improving your English vocabulary is that it gives you new words from the same root. And if you are flexible enough to change sentences around different parts of speech of the same root word, you are grammatically flexible.
- How to do it: When you learn a new word, try to find its noun, verb, adjective, and adverb forms. In some cases, the noun, verb, or adjective may even be the same word. Also, pay attention to collocations – words that naturally go together (e.g., “make a decision,” not “do a decision”).
- Why it helps: This strategy helps you precisely complete your thoughts and make your sentences sound more natural. A strong understanding of parts of speech and English sentence building is incredibly helpful here.
Strategy 3 on how to improve English vocabulary: Consistent Input & Active Practice (Making It Stick)
Knowing a word isn’t enough; you have to use it. Consistent, daily engagement is key for moving words from your passive understanding to your active vocabulary.
- How to do it: Make English a regular part of your day. Read, listen, and, most importantly, practice using new words.
Avoid the trap: Don’t just randomly consume English content. While watching movies is fun, for real vocabulary growth, you need to actively look for words, write them down, and practice them.
Ready to Put These Strategies into Daily Practice?
You now have proven strategies to dramatically improve your English vocabulary and banish those vocabulary problems. But putting these powerful methods into consistent daily action can feel challenging on your own. Who checks your progress? How do you ensure you’re always getting the right, native-aligned exercises?
That’s where Native English Daily steps in.
My unique subscription program is designed to be your partner in making these powerful vocabulary-building strategies a consistent, daily habit. We provide the structured practice, native-speaker insights, and supportive community you need to truly implement what you’ve learned here, effortlessly.
Daily Native-Aligned Exercises: We deliver the “horizontal” vocabulary practice directly to you, so you consistently build words like a native speaker.
Systematic Word Building: Our lessons guide you through prefixes, suffixes, and collocations, enabling you to expand words you already know.
Consistent Practice: Designed for busy schedules, Native English Daily ensures you engage with English daily, turning intention into lasting habit.
Expert Guidance: You’ll receive personalized support to apply these strategies effectively and conquer your specific English vocabulary problems.
Ready to see how systematic, daily practice can transform your vocabulary?
Your Next Step: Confidently Express Yourself!
The Vocabulary Void is a common English learning challenge, but it’s not the only English learning challenge you face. For further reading on the English learning challenges, you can find the pillar post here.
Learn some Expressions for how to deal with the Vocabulary Void
Sometimes, your vocabulary goes missing in the moment of speaking. In these moments, you want to have some natural expressions ready to go so that you still sound natural in English. Learn these phrases and expressions for forgetting and remembering with this related post.
English Grammar Explained
Don't just work to improve your English vocabulary. English grammar and vocabulary go hand-in-hand since you can't have one without the other. Fill in your grammar gaps and learn English sentence structure like a native speaker today!
