How to cram vocabulary

[Nonverbis]

I cram vocabulary.

If any of you don't coinsider that cramming vocabulary is not useful, please, don't join the discussion.
Now, let's suppose, that everybody here is in favour of cramming phrases.

The screenshot below is from Wordbuilder by Guy Wellman.




Well, not the ideal of a vocabulary book, but anyway. Why is it not ideal? Because we can't understand how to use these words (prepositions, collocations, set phrases etc.). And there is no transcription.

I go to https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/ and prepare a list of vocabulary myself. Like this:

optimistic about something that… /ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk/​

She's not very optimistic about the outcome of the talks.​

They are cautiously optimistic that the reforms will take place.​

We are now taking a more optimistic view.​

positive about something​

She tried to be more positive about her new job.​

There were times when it was difficult to remain positive.​

excited about something about doing something to do something that... /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/​

I am really excited about the opportunity to work with her.​

The children were excited about opening their presents.​

He was very excited to be asked to play for Wales.​

He is very excited that he will get to meet his idol. /ˈaɪdl/​

The new restaurant is nothing to get excited about (= not particularly good).​

active /ˈæktɪv/​

It's important to remain mentally active after retirement.​

enthusiastic about somebody/something about doing something /ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk/​

You don't sound very enthusiastic about the idea.​

Party members were less than enthusiastic about the candidates on offer.​

She was still really enthusiastic about going to Spain.​

thrilled about/at something to do something That…​

He was thrilled at the prospect of seeing them again.​

She was thrilled to bits (= extremely pleased) that he'd been offered the job.​

I was thrilled to be invited.​

My wife is much more thrilled about it than I am.​

I just copy lots of examples from a dictionary.

I suppose, it is too time consumint to prepare and anyway, hardly possible to use effectively. Sisyphean labour.

Could you teach your students to prepare vocabulary list? If yes, how does it look?

 

[5jj]

If any of you don't coinsider that cramming vocabulary is not useful, please, don't join the discussion.

Please don't place such restrictions on participation in threads. All members are free to participate in all threads if they feel they have something relevant to say.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't quite understand the question. If you copy examples from dictionaries, why then do you say it's "too time-consuming" and "hardly possible to use effectively"?

Are you looking for general advice on vocab learning?

 

[Nonverbis]

Are you looking for general advice on vocab learning?

Maybe yes. I'd like to.

 

[probus]

One traditional piece of advice is to try to acquire one to three new words each day by rote memorization. I seem to recall that there is some science behind those numbers. Maybe @jutfrank knows about that?

 

[Tarheel]

Maybe yes. I'd like to get some.

Yours seems to be a pretty good method.

One thing you have learned is that it can be hard to know what words to use since so many words have meanings that are similar to those of other words. That's why the example sentences are helpful. They help you understand the situations in which one word is used and not another.