Podcast. Aprender y mejorar el vocabulario en inglés

Este podcast se centra en cómo mejorar el vocabulario inglés de manera efectiva y sostenible. Se propone la construcción de una "biblioteca mental" de palabras, abogando por estrategias como listas temáticas de palabras, lectura activa, asociación de imágenes, y práctica dirigida (ejercicios de traducción, comprensión lectora, etc.). El énfasis se pone en la consistencia y el establecimiento de objetivos realistas, promoviendo la motivación a través de juegos de palabras y la celebración de los pequeños logros. En esencia, el podcast busca transformar el aprendizaje de vocabulario de una tarea ardua en un proceso divertido y gratificante, fomentando la fluidez y la confianza en la comunicación en inglés.

* Si tienes problemas para entender la conversación puedes descargar nuestro Curso de inglés en audio

All right, let's dive into something pretty cool today. Expanding your English vocabulary.

Yeah, we're looking at this guide "Cómo aprender y mejorar mi vocabulario en inglés"

which if you don't speak Spanish means how to learn and improve my English vocabulary. So, if you're listening, you're probably already thinking about this. And this guide is all about like how to actually do it.

It's really practical. It starts off with a really important point.

Okay,

a strong vocabulary is the foundation for becoming fluent,

right?

You know, it's not just about understanding other people. It's about expressing yourself what you want to say in a way that's clear and that you feel good about.

That makes total sense.

I've always had trouble remembering new words.

Yeah.

I can look them up in the dictionary, but you know, then I forget them the next day.

So, how do you move beyond just defining words to actually like making them part of how you speak?

So, that's where this idea of a mental library comes in. Like imagine building up a collection of words that you can just use without having to stop and think, "What was that word again?"

Yeah.

And this guide, it has some really cool strategies to do just that.

Okay. So, less dictionary, more mental library,

right?

I like it. How do you start to build this collection?

Well, one of the best ways is using these things called themed word lists.

Okay.

So, instead of learning just random words, you learn groups of words that are all about a specific topic.

So, like if I was into cooking, I might learn sauté, simmer, julianne, all at the same time.

Exactly. And the reason that works is because our brains, they naturally make connections.

Okay.

So, when you learn words that are related to each other, it's like you're creating this web in your mind.

Oh, that's interesting.

And that makes the words way easier to remember.

I can see that each word kind of becomes a clue to help you remember the others.

But what if I get overwhelmed? Like if I try to learn too many words at once?

Yeah, that can definitely happen.

Yeah.

The guide says to start small. It actually recommends setting a daily goal.

Maybe starting with just five or 10 new words and then as you get more comfortable, you can slowly increase that number.

That seems much more manageable.

Yeah.

Than trying to learn like a whole dictionary.

Right. Exactly.

So, we've got themed lists, reasonable goals. What else is there?

Another really cool strategy is active reading.

Okay.

And I don't mean just like glancing over a text, you know?

Yeah, I've definitely been guilty of that. Yeah. So, active reading means you go into it wanting to learn new words.

Okay.

That might mean you have to slow down how fast you're reading.

Yeah.

Pay attention to words you don't know. Maybe even write them down.

Oh, so you're going in and really looking for those new words.

Right. It's like you're on a treasure hunt for vocabulary.

Yeah. Instead of just hoping that they're going to like stick in your brain.

Exactly. And this is where things like electronic dictionaries come in handy.

Oh, yeah.

You can quickly look up the definition, hear how it's pronounced, and even see different ways to use it. All right, there.

It's like having a personal vocabulary tutor.

Yeah, it's super convenient.

Does the guide recommend like certain things to read for this?

It says it's best to start with stuff that's just a little bit harder than what you usually read.

Okay.

Not so easy that you get bored, but not so hard that you can't follow it.

Gotcha.

And as your vocabulary grows, you can slowly make the stuff you read more difficult, too.

Okay. So, themed lists, active reading, Mhm.

What other techniques are in this guide?

Well, this one's really interesting. It's called image association.

Okay.

Basically, you're connecting new words with pictures to make them more memorable.

Oh, that's cool. I've heard of using flashcards with pictures. Is that kind of what you mean?

Yeah, that's one way to do it. But it can also be as simple as picturing something in your head when you learn a new word.

So, if I'm learning the word serene, I might think of a peaceful lake.

Exactly. That's perfect. Because our brains, they remember images really well,

right?

So, when you connect a word to a strong image. It's like giving your memory a boost.

Okay, this is making a lot of sense. Building a mental library is about making those words really stick in your mind,

right?

Through different ways of learning and making those connections.

Yeah. And being creative with it.

Yeah. What else does this guide say about making those new words stick?

Well, there's something called targeted practice.

Okay.

It's all about actually using the new words you're learning.

Okay.

To really make sure you get them.

Gotcha.

And the guide has a a bunch of different exercises for this.

Like what? Tell me more.

Well, one type is image-based exercises.

Yeah.

These help with those visual connections we were just talking about.

Okay.

Like you might see a picture and then have to choose the right word to describe it.

Oh, like a matching game.

Exactly. Like a vocabulary matching game.

That sounds fun.

And then there are translation exercises.

Oh, okay.

These are really good for getting fluent in both English and your native language.

Yeah, cuz then you really have to think about what the word means. in both languages.

Exactly. And all the subtle differences between them. Yeah. There are also reading comprehension exercises. Okay. Which are all about understanding new words in context.

So you might read a short story and then answer questions about the words in it.

That makes sense.

Yeah.

Because ultimately we want to be able to actually use these words when we speak, right?

Yeah. For sure. You want to be able to use them naturally.

Yeah.

And speaking of real life situations,

active listening is another really important technique.

Okay. So, we've got active reading now active listening.

Yep.

I'm intrigued.

So, it's a lot like active reading.

Okay.

But instead of focusing on the words you read,

Mhm.

you're paying close attention to spoken language. Gotcha.

And trying to pick out new words and phrases.

So, instead of just listening to a podcast or watching a movie, I should be like actively trying to hear new words.

Exactly. And the guide has a great tip for this. Use transcripts.

Okay.

Like songs with lyrics. movies with subtitles or even audiobooks so you can follow along.

Oh, that's smart.

Yeah. And don't be shy about pausing or rewinding.

The point is to really understand what you're hearing. Yeah.

Which might mean slowing things down a bit.

I like that a lot. I'm getting so many good ideas from this.

That's great. I'm glad.

You know, sometimes learning shouldn't feel like work.

I totally agree.

So, the guide recommends something a bit more fun.

Okay. Like what?

Word games.

Oh, yeah. Those are classes.

There are so many good word games out there,

right? There are tons. of websites and apps now that make vocabulary learning into a game.

I love that.

It's a great way to learn without it feeling like a chore.

Yeah, exactly. Sometimes we forget that learning can actually be fun.

Absolutely. And it's often more effective when it is.

Yeah.

And you know that ties into the main message of the guide.

What's that?

Making vocabulary learning a habit.

It's something you do regularly, even in small bits, not just something you cram for. Yeah.

Like once in a while.

So it's about building that mental library and making it a habit.

Exactly. about using all these different methods, the themed lists, active reading, even word games.

Yeah. And finding what works for you

and making it fun.

Absolutely.

Did I get all that right?

You've got it. You've got the main idea for sure.

So,

it's not about becoming a master overnight.

Yeah.

It's about finding what you like and making it a part of your life.

Makes sense.

Yeah,

that makes a lot of sense. So, how do we take this this vocabulary building as a habit and make it real?

Well, the guide talks about setting realistic goals like Don't try to learn a million words all at once. Maybe just focus on five new words a day or even just one if that feels like enough.

That's a good point. I think I'd be much more likely to keep going if it felt like something I could actually do. Are there any other tips for making this into like a regular thing?

Oh, yeah. Definitely. One thing it really emphasizes is celebrating those small wins.

Okay.

You know, every new word you learn is a success. So, make sure you acknowledge that progress no matter how small.

Oh, I love that. It's so easy to get caught up in what you haven't done yet that you forget to think about how far you've come. So, celebrate those small victories. I like that a lot.

Yeah, it's important. And, you know, building fluency. It takes time. It's like learning a musical instrument or training for a marathon,

right?

You wouldn't expect to be a concert pianist after one day of practice, right? Or run a marathon without training consistently.

That's a good way to think about it. It reminds me that I need to be patient.

Yeah.

And keep at it. So, no more cramming the night before a big presentation.

Exactly. It's the consistent effort over time that makes the real difference. Speaking of which, what stood out to you the most from all these different strategies?

That's a good question. I I think that idea of a mental library really clicked for me. It just makes it so clear that it's about building this collection of words you can use whenever you want.

It's a powerful image, isn't it? And it really shows that it's not just about knowing what words mean, it's also about knowing how to use them in different situations.

Yeah, for sure. And I really like how much it focuses on active learning and making connections

like those themed word lists and using images. Those just seem like so much more fun,

right,

than just reading a definition in a dictionary.

Absolutely. And the best part is you can choose the strategies that work for you.

Yeah.

Maybe you learn best with pictures, so image association would be perfect for you. Or maybe you love word games, so you can practice that way.

This has given me so much to think about. I'm actually feeling inspired to start trying some of these tech techniques.

That's great. And remember, the guide is just a starting point. There's so much out there to explore. So, try different things and see what works best for you.

I think that's what I like most about this whole deep dive.

Yeah.

It's not just about following a bunch of rules. It's about getting the tools and feeling encouraged to find my own way to become more fluent.

Exactly. It's about making you a more confident communicator.

So, before we finish up, I'd love to hear your final thoughts. What's the one thing you hope I'll take away from all of this?

I think the most important thing to remember is that learning new words, it's a journey. It's not about reaching a finish line.

Mhm.

There's always more to learn new words to find out about and new ways to express yourself.

That's such a good point. It's not about suddenly knowing every single word in the dictionary. It's about constantly learning and getting better. And that's pretty exciting. Actually,

it is. And it can be really rewarding, too. You know, before we go, I want to leave you with something to think about. What's one specific area of English vocabulary you'd like to get better at? Maybe something to do with your job or or hobbies or something you're really interested in.

Okay, I've got a couple in mind actually. I'm always trying to learn more about listener's interest one

and listener's interest too, which are things I'm really into.

Those sound great.

Yeah. So, what should I do next?

So, think about it. What resources or strategies could you start using today? Even just one small thing to improve in those areas.

H I could look for themed word lists about those topics.

That's a good one.

Or maybe try finding podcasts or articles about those things. and practice that act of listening.

Yeah, those are great ideas. Even just 15 minutes a day reading an article or listening to a podcast on something you love can make a big difference over time.

Wow, that's encouraging.

It really is. You'd be surprised how much progress you can make with consistent effort.

Yeah, I feel way more prepared to actually go after those goals now. This has been awesome. It's amazing how much we've gotten through.

It's been fun talking about all this with you. And you know, remember, it's not about reaching some perfect level of English. It's about using language to express yourself better, connect with people, really engage with the world in new ways.

I love that. It's not just about the words themselves. It's about all the possibilities they open up.

Exactly. And the more you learn, the more you realize how fun it can be.

Yeah.

So, keep exploring, keep playing with language, and don't lose that curiosity.

I won't. This deep dive has really made me excited about learning English again. You reminded me how much I enjoy it. Thanks for guiding me through all of this.

My pleasure. Just Just remember, every word you learn is a step towards being more fluent and more confident.

So, don't be afraid of the challenge. Celebrate those little wins and enjoy the process.

I will I'm gonna go build that mental library and start using all these awesome strategies. Thanks for joining me on this deep dive and until next time.