Learn fewer words, more deeply
Long word lists feel productive, but recognising a translation once is not the same as owning a word. A better target is five useful words in one sitting. For each word, learn its meaning, pronunciation, a natural example and one common collocation.
The collocation matters because English words rarely travel alone. Learning “make a decision” is more useful than learning “decision” in isolation, and it helps you produce a natural sentence more quickly.
Use recall instead of rereading
After meeting a word, hide the definition and try to retrieve it. Then reverse the direction: look at the meaning and produce the English word. This effortful moment is where memory becomes stronger.
Do not treat a wrong answer as failure. Check the answer, notice what confused you and try again later. An honest difficult rating gives your review schedule better information than an easy rating chosen to protect a score.
- Say the word aloud.
- Write one true sentence about your life.
- Recall the word again without looking.
- Return to difficult words on another day.
Space your reviews
Memory weakens with time, so review works best when it is spread across several days. A simple rhythm is to revisit a difficult word tomorrow, then a few days later, then after a week. Words recalled easily can wait longer.
Short daily sessions are easier to sustain than occasional marathons. Ten focused minutes on most days will usually create more durable vocabulary than an hour once a week.
Move from recognition to use
A word becomes active when you can choose it during speaking or writing. At the end of each week, select five learned words and use them in a short message, voice note or conversation. Keep the situation realistic: describe your work, explain a decision or tell a short story.
If a sentence feels forced, check a reliable dictionary for examples. Your goal is not to insert every new word everywhere; it is to know when the word is the natural choice.