Vocab Lists or Real Life?

In Japan, I found that the word 降車 is perhaps not so commonly used in everyday speech, even though I was studying words like this a lot at home. 

It took me one day to remember a new word when using it in real life, but it often takes me weeks to memorise a word when studying at home.

It’s not hard to learn vocabulary, but you need practice to know when they’re suitable.

Example: You can learn that “mate” means friend from a vocab list or text book. But you won’t understand the nuance behind it until you spend more time with British speakers or immersed in the language in some way. Despite the fact that “mate” means “friend”, it’s often used for total strangers and, when used with true friends, it can sound quite distant and strange.

Another example is knowing how to thank people. There are many thanks yous in English (Thanks, thank you, thanks a lot, cheers, ta…) and a textbook might say they are similar. But learning the difference is hard to do without lots of experience and observation.

It’s a good idea to supplement your learning with vocabulary lists and independent study, but, if possible, you need to experience English in its natural form to learn to nuance of every word. 

Nuance – a very small meaning or subtle change in the expression or sound of something

This ties into the link to culture as well. It’s important to understand the culture of the language you’re learning to fully understand the way words are used.