Words of the Week

Have you felt that you have been learning a language for a while now but you are still not able to use it efficiently? Before you start blaming your language learning abilities consider if you are taking the right approach to language learning. Very often the problem is that you are not learning things in the right order.

Maybe you can read the news, but you can't ask for a glass of water. It is probably because you are not learning the words you are going to use.

In this series, I will provide you with a list of words every week in order of importance. We will look at the most frequently used words, and most frequent situations. You will find the words which you need most often.

Every week, on Monday, I will post approximately twenty words which you can learn throughout the week. After about a year, you will know approximately 1000 of the most frequently used words.

This list is not language specific. I will provide the words in English, which you can look up in the dictionary or discuss with your teacher, depending on which language you are learning.

How Words Are Selected?

It is hard to tell which are the most frequently used words, it depends on which list you are looking at, but for the most part they agree. I have compiled some of the lists of the most frequently used words in English.

After I compiled the word list, I also looked at the most frequently encountered situations. Therefore, some words are not necessarily among the most frequent ones, but you would use them on a daily basis. Let me give you an example. You probably use the word "the" or "and" more often than "yes" or "no", but in reality, yes and no will become more useful when you start communicating.

How to Use the List?

Every week, when I post the new list, look them up in your dictionary, or ask your teacher. If you learn about three words a day, you will be ready to move on the following Monday.

Also, make sure that occasionally you review the previous words to make sure that you didn't forget them.

What the Word List Is Good for?

After following this exercise, after some weeks you will notice that you are able to respond in the most frequent situations, and you will be able to express the most immediate needs.

After several months, you will notice that you will be able to participate in more and more types of conversation.

The idea is not to bombard you with a huge number of words. Rather, to get you to a level in about a year where you will feel comfortable in interaction with people.

What the List Is Not Good for?

This weekly word list is not there to replace your language books or your language instructor. Rather, it is there for you to ensure that you add to the efficiency of your language learning process. You may find that reading a weekly list you already know some of the concepts. You may also notice that in certain subjects, you know more words than what is listed. Advance in your language learning as you would otherwise.

This list also does not teach you conversation or grammar. You will need to learn it on your own. It is highly recommended to have a grammar book of your selected language handy. Also, you will need to find opportunities to practice the language you are learning, either with your language instructor, or in a native environment.

What's next?

Follow this blog, and receive the weekly word list every week.

Follow the blog through RSS, or through Twitter to get the updates immediately.

I have also posted a compilation of the lists on one page, so you can go back and forth and review all the materials.

Good luck in your language venture, and let me know if you have any comments and observations.

Week 1: encounters