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Word of the Day


Word of the Day

Dear Students,

This week I've been thinking about the difference between good students and great students. One of the factors is that great students have a notebook in which they write down new words and phrases that they like and want to bring into their active vocabulary.

When I say something my best students have never heard before, they get a little smile on their face and they add it to their collection. It's the same when they're watching movies or reading articles on the BBC. A student in Greece (who had an extraordinary vocabulary) told me that he collected words like other people collect stamps.

Over time, such students build a vocabulary that sounds fresher, more 'native-like' than the average student.

The good news is, this technique is simple and you can start today!

Earlier, I was listening to a man talking about courage and bravery. He said, 'Ask tough questions - don't be meek'. Meek! It's a long time since I heard that word and I thought to myself, 'I'd love one of my students to use words like that.'

meek definition

You could use it when talking about how you've changed:

"When I was a child I used to be quite meek; now I'm more assertive."

Or about someone's character:

"He seems to be quite meek, but in fact he's as tough as nails."

What words or phrases have you heard today that you want to add to your active vocabulary?