UNLOCKING THE LEXICAL MIND: METHODS FOR IMPROVING VOCABULARY MEMORY RETENTION IN ENGLISH LEARNING
Keywords:
Vocabulary is central to communication, yet many English learners—especially adults—struggle to remember new words for more than a short time. Unlike children, adult learners often have less neuroplasticity and fewer natural exposure opportunities.Abstract
One of the most persistent problems for English language learners, particularly adults who have to balance their personal and professional lives, has been and continues to be vocabulary retention. According to recent studies conducted in three domains—applied linguistics, cognitive psychology, and second language acquisition—learning that involves spaced repetition, active recall, contextual learning, and deeper cognitive processing greatly enhances long-term retention. Based on the research of well-known scholars like Nation, Schmitt, Krashen, and Baddeley, among others, this article explores evidence-based strategies that improve vocabulary memory. Studies conducted in actual classrooms show that memory techniques, contextualized input, and meaningful repetition improve retention while also boosting students' self-esteem and independence. The article concludes, offering practical recommendations for teachers and learners to make vocabulary “stick” more effectively.
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