Hello, lovely learners! It’s Janet here from English with Janet. Today, I want to talk about something that many of us face when learning a language—feeling like we can’t fully express ourselves because of a limited vocabulary. It’s one of the most frustrating barriers when learning English (or any language, for that matter). You’ve got all these ideas in your head, but the words just won’t come out. I get it, I’ve been there too!
But don’t worry—this is something we can work through together. In this post, I’ll be sharing why this happens, how it impacts your confidence, and more importantly, what you can do to expand your vocabulary so you can express yourself more clearly and confidently in English.
Let’s start by understanding why having a limited vocabulary is such a big deal. Vocabulary is the foundation of communication. Think of it as a toolkit—you need the right tools (words) to build something (a sentence or idea). If you don’t have enough tools, you’ll feel stuck or frustrated when trying to build something complex.
Imagine trying to explain how you feel, but the only words you can find are basic ones like “good” or “bad.” You know there’s more nuance to your emotions, but without the right words, it’s hard to express yourself in a meaningful way. This is why you might feel like you’re “not yourself” when speaking in a language you’re still learning.
When you can’t find the words you need, it’s easy to lose confidence. You might feel embarrassed or afraid of sounding silly, and this fear can hold you back from speaking up at all. You might think, “What if I make a mistake?” or “What if they don’t understand me?” The irony is that the less you speak, the less practice you get, and the longer it takes to build up the vocabulary you need.
It’s a vicious cycle, isn’t it? But here’s the good news: there are ways to break that cycle and grow your vocabulary without feeling overwhelmed.
First, it’s important to acknowledge how much you already know. Often, learners focus so much on what they don’t know that they forget how far they’ve come. Even if you only know a few hundred words, that’s a great starting point!
One way to boost your confidence is to practice using the words you do know. Instead of worrying about the words you can’t find, try to explain things using simpler language. For example, if you don’t know the word “frustrated,” you can say, “I feel bad because I can’t do something that I want to do.”
The key is to keep the conversation going, even if it’s not perfect. You’ll be surprised at how often you can still make yourself understood with a smaller set of vocabulary.
While it’s important to use what you know, you also want to keep growing your vocabulary so you can express more complex ideas. But here’s the thing—don’t try to learn hundreds of new words all at once. That’s overwhelming! Instead, focus on learning words that are relevant to your life and interests.
For example, if you love cooking, start by learning vocabulary related to food and recipes. If you work in an office, focus on business vocabulary. By learning words that are directly useful to you, you’ll be more motivated to use them and remember them.
Here are a few strategies to help you expand your vocabulary step by step:
Memorizing a list of random words won’t do much for you. Instead, learn words in the context of sentences or stories. For example, if you’re learning the word “delighted,” try to learn it in a sentence like, “I was delighted to receive your invitation.” This helps you understand not just the meaning of the word but also how it’s used.
Flashcards can be helpful, but only if they’re meaningful to you. When you make flashcards, try to write sentences that relate to your own life. For example, instead of just writing “delighted – very happy,” write, “I was delighted when my friend called me.” By connecting the word to your personal experiences, it will stick in your memory better.
The best way to remember new words is to use them regularly. Challenge yourself to use at least one new word a day in conversation, writing, or even thinking. It can be something simple like writing a short diary entry using the new words you’ve learned.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—making mistakes is part of learning. If you’re holding back because you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities to practice and improve. No one expects you to be perfect, and the more you speak, the better you’ll get.
Think of mistakes as stepping stones. Each time you make one, you learn something new, and it brings you one step closer to being able to express yourself fully.
Once you’ve built a solid foundation of vocabulary, you can start expanding it by learning synonyms and collocations (words that naturally go together). For example, if you already know the word “happy,” try learning synonyms like “joyful,” “pleased,” or “delighted.”
You can also focus on learning how words are commonly used together. For example, instead of just learning the word “discussion,” learn collocations like “have a discussion,” “engage in a discussion,” or “fruitful discussion.” This will help you sound more natural when speaking and writing.
One of the best ways to improve your vocabulary is by immersing yourself in English as much as possible. This doesn’t mean you have to move to an English-speaking country! You can surround yourself with English by:
The more you expose yourself to the language, the more words and phrases you’ll pick up naturally. Over time, you’ll start to notice patterns and connections between words, which will make it easier to learn new vocabulary.
Finally, be patient. Building a strong vocabulary takes time, and it’s normal to feel frustrated along the way. But remember, every time you learn a new word or successfully express an idea in English, you’re making progress.
Don’t compare yourself to others—everyone’s language learning journey is different. Focus on your own progress, and celebrate the small wins. Every step forward is a step closer to being able to express yourself fully in English.
Limited vocabulary is a common challenge for English learners, but it’s not something you can’t overcome. By using the words you already know, gradually expanding your vocabulary, and practicing regularly, you’ll gain the confidence and skills to express yourself more freely.
And remember, mistakes are just part of the journey. So don’t be afraid to speak up and keep practicing—you’re doing great!
Keep learning, keep growing, and I’ll see you in the next post!
With love,
Janet
(English with Janet)
Leave a Reply