Great Online Tools For Increasing Your Vocabulary
Language. We all use it, we all need it. But, after leaving school we often stop developing our vocabulary unless we need to for any specific reason, such as work. Whether talking about learning a new language or simply evolving your knowledge of your first language, there are plenty of ways to do so online. With over 43% of the world’s population being bilingual, why not get online and challenge yourself to improve your knowledge of a first or second language?
Why the Internet Can Help
The internet is becoming an infinite resource. With 60% or more of the planet’s population having access to the web, whatever it is you’d like to learn, you can probably find out all about it on the internet. Language is no different. There are new resources, both paid and free, being developed, changed, uploaded, or created every single day. So, whether you have some money to put into your vocabulary or not, there’s a great online tool out there for you.
Word Games
Let’s start with word games. Some of the world’s most popular board games revolve around words, wordplay, or language. Just think about Scrabble, Boggle, and even crosswords. These types of games are recognizable all around the world, with various versions on the internet too.
The best part about online word games is that most of them are free. You can sign up and play Words With Friends or Scrabble completely free. These games centre around finding the best words, so there’s no doubt that they will help improve your vocabulary. Sign up today and play some games against friends or strangers, before you know it, you’ll see words you’ve never seen before and find yourself learning what they mean and how to use them.
Word Unscramblers
What happens if you get stuck playing a word game or trying to solve an anagram online? Well, you turn to an anagram solver of course! As the team over at Unscramblex.com explains, these apps are “specifically created to help you to find the highest scoring words for games such as Scrabble or Words with Friends.” So, not only can you find new words that you may not have been able to think of alone, but you can also get a huge points boost when playing these games. If you’re new to a language, this is definitely not cheating – just a helping hand!
“Word of the Day” Emails and Apps
There are plenty of sites that offer a word of the day feature. This idea stems from desk calendars, where each torn off day would reveal a new word. This word comes with a description, example of use, and more. People had them on their desk for a bit of morning inspiration and education. Nowadays, though, you can get these words sent directly to your inbox or as a pop-up on your phone screen. You don’t have to think about it every day, just wait for the pop-up and learn a new word.
Try a Course
Online learning has become far more popular in recent times. Partly down to the pandemic and partly down to the accessibility of online courses. Often, these courses cost money but nowhere near as much as taking an in-person class regularly.
You can find online courses in just about anything – including language! If you want to further your vocabulary, you could try a creative writing course or a straight-up language course. These courses are well-written and well-structured educational tools, with learning objectives and tests to pass. All in all, there’s probably no better way to receive some cheap, effective education.
Google it!
There is one online resource you simply cannot avoid – the search engine. Whether you use Google or one of its many competitors, they will provide you with all the word advice you could need – for free! All you have to do is type a word into the search bar alongside the word “definition,” and you will be given a breakdown of that word’s definition and uses.
As a bonus, type the word “thesaurus” and you will see a list of all the alternative words that mean the same thing. This way, you can find some new words and an easy to understand definition. What a simple way to expand your vocabulary for no cost at all.
Forums
There is a lot to be said for chat rooms and forums. One of the first online creations was a chat room, which has spawned into instant messaging apps and forums of all kinds. If you look at huge message boards like Reddit, you will find plenty of sub-forums dedicated to language and learning. On these sites, you can simply ask a question regarding some language you don’t understand and receive hundreds of answers. Again, totally free.
Luckily, when you use these kinds of resources, you will usually find plenty of like-minded people, all looking to learn together. This means there is no room for bullying or laughing at someone else’s language skills. You’ll be able to ask questions and receive friendly, helpful replies.
Videos
One of the most common ways people learn new languages is through entertainment. If you’re learning a completely new language, immersing yourself in it is one of the best ways to develop your skills. To do so, simply choose some online content to watch and watch it with subtitles. You will hear the new language as you read your language, making it easy to learn how people speak and communicate in the language you wish to learn.
Paid Language Apps and Sites
Finally, it is worth mentioning proper, paid language apps. Much like the courses mentioned earlier, these apps are specifically designed to help you learn. They are, however, the most expensive option of all. Usually, based on a monthly subscription model, you will receive education in the form of spoken responses, quizzes, spelling tests, reading tests and more. It’s just like going back to school. A great shout for someone trying to learn a new language.
As you can see, the internet is full of tools for educating yourself on language. Give some of the free options a go and you’ll quickly start to learn. If you want to master a language, move on to a course or an app.
