For my vocabulary strategy to try today, I chose to focus on learning words in context. Instead of just memorizing lists of words and definitions, I made a conscious effort to notice new words while reading an online article and see how they are used in a sentence.
How it worked:
I read a news article on technology from a major publication. Whenever I encountered an unfamiliar word, I didn't just look up the definition. I paused to analyze the sentence and the paragraph around it to guess its meaning first. Then, I used a dictionary to confirm the definition and see example sentences. Finally, I wrote my own sentence using the new word to solidify my understanding.
Did it work for me?
Absolutely. This strategy worked much better for me than rote memorization. By seeing the word used in a real sentence, I got a much clearer sense of its nuance and how it's actually used. Writing my own sentence was the key step that helped move the word from my passive understanding to my active vocabulary.