Learn Vocabulary Faster (Memorize Words In Seconds)

Do you want to comprehend more of what you read? Would you like to retain more technical terms for your job? Are you sick of having people talk above you?

I did an Instagram live earlier today where someone asked me how to remember vocabulary words more quickly. Memorizing words can be great for your education and career. But for most people, it’s daunting and boring because you are using flashcards, repetition, and rote memorization. With the superpower of your imagination, you can learn 10 words a day in 10 minutes. That’s 300 new words a month!

All you have to do is TIP: Turn it Into a Picture

• We think and dream in pictures.
• If you get on an airplane, the signs reminding you to wear your seatbelt and not smoke are in pictures.
• If you tend to remember the things you see, try seeing the things you want to remember.

Step 1: Turn the word you want to learn into a picture

Step 2: Turn the definition into a “sound-a-like” picture

Step 3: Connect the pictures in a memorable story

• This process might seem childish – but kids are the fastest learners because they activate their sense of wonder and imagination.
• This process is a means to an end – once you know what the word means, the picture disappears.
• It also helps you overcome the 6-second syndrome.
• When you learn something you need to remember, you have 6 seconds to do something with it so you remember it.

Example 1: Extol

• Extol means to praise.
• Extol sounds like “eggs toll,” so imagine that you’re going through a tollboth and you pay with eggs. After you pay, the tollbooth attendants praise you by applauding.

Example 2: Polemic

• Polemic means to argue.
• Polemic looks like “pole mic,” so maybe you’re using the microphone to argue.

Example 3: Transient

• Something that’s transient is short lived.
• Transient sounds like “train sees ant.”
• Imagine a train that sees an ant. It runs over the ant so the ant is short-lived.

Example 4: Foretoken

• Foretoken means warning.
• Foretoken sounds like “four token.”
• Imagine you’re going to a reading and someone has a crystal ball, and you give them four tokens, and they give you a warning.

Example 5: Slake

• Slake means to quench.
• Imagine you are quenching your thirst in a lake shaped like an S.

Example 6: Supercilious

• Supercilious means arrogant.
• What could you picture?
• The key to learning more words is to commit and do it regularly.

5 Tips to Learning More Words

Read more often

• You want to be exposed to new words.
• Try putting the words in a journal, or check Dictionary.com for their word of the day.

Look at the definition of the word

• How can you use TIP?

Set a goal

• Decide to learn X words a day using this TIP.
• For most people, 10 words a day is a reasonable number.
• Take a minute for each and review it.

Use the word

• Make a point to use the words you learn in everyday conversation.

Teach

• When you teach the word, you learn it more deeply – and you learn it twice.
• Try teaching (or challenging!) a friend or family member to learn with you.

Final Thoughts

• You can’t survive a school or work environment today without the right language.
• A robust vocabulary will allow you to communicate and comprehend better, both in your speaking and writing.
• Remember: people judge you by the words you use.
• Use TIP to quickly learn the lingo for any field, and you will speak the language of the pros in no time.
• To go deeper into this topic, purchase ourKwik Recall Masterclass. This is a 12-week online program dedicated to unlocking your very best memory.