Watching series or films in English is an excellent audio-visual means of acquiring new vocabulary. but how much of it do you actually retain? A good memory test would be to ask yourself, how many new words did you learn from that series or film today? If your recall is poor you need to look at other ways of assimilating new lexis. You could for example put on English subtitles and pause the TV to jot down new vocabulary. This may spoil the fluidity of the series or film you are watching but it is a sure way of guaranteeing you are learning something.
There is no doubt that language learning requires effort and hard work. The more effort you put in the easier it becomes. Reading a novel, doing word puzzles and crosswords can help your concentration and memory retention considerably. The advantage here is that you can underline a new word and record it in your vocabulary notebooks to refer to any time you need. In this way you are steadily increasing your lexis and noticing your progress more.
It is important to highlight that language learning is all about context. If you find a theme you are interested in whether it be technology, science fiction. current affairs, politics, travel, or business you will assimilate new language far quicker. Forming a book club with friends who have similar interests will motivate you to read a lot more. Giving a resume of the book monthly will go a long way to helping advanced learners prepare for their C1 or C2 exam. For the audio-visual learner, audio books are a very useful tool when exercising or doing tasks around the house.
Having fun when learning new vocabulary is a must! Playing boardgames like Monopoly, Taboo, and Scrabble are a sure way to entertain teens and adults. The more extroverted will enjoy Charades and Pictionary. Crosswords, word puzzles and hangman are great for all levels and can be used to refresh the vocabulary learned in class. For young learners, card games, dominoes and bingo are fun ways to learn the numbers and keep them focused. Simple Simon says is a very popular game for young children and is a very effective method of learning the Imperative forms i.e., stand up, sit down, open your books, etc.,
Whatever your interests may be, find the context that makes learning and acquiring new vocabulary easier for you. Set aside twenty minutes a day and watch yourself progress steadily to the next level and most of all enjoy the journey!