In English, we have a saying that goes, "Use it or lose it." It means that if you do not continue to use a skill, you might lose the ability to do so.
英语中有一种说法：“用进废退，“它的意思是如果你不继续使用某项技能，你可能就会失去这项能力。
We can say this about language learning, including learning new words. If you do not use the new words often, you might forget them.
我们可以这样说语言学习，包括学习新单词。如果你不经常使用这些新单词，你可能就会忘记它们。
Our reader Banin has a question today. Here it is:
我们的读者Banin今天提出了一个问题，以下是他的问题：
Question
提问：
Hi. How can I improve my vocabulary? – Banin
你好，我该怎么提高词汇量？— Banin
Answer:
回答：
Hello Banin,
你好，Banin。
Great question! The answer will help many English learners. Here are four things you can do:
这个问题提得好。答案也将帮助到很多英语学习者。你可以做以下四点：
Read, read, read
阅读，阅读，还是阅读
Read...a lot! Look for news stories, websites, magazines and books on subjects that you enjoy. While reading, try to guess the meanings of new words from their context. Then, you can check the meanings in a paper dictionary or online.
经常阅读！找一些自己喜欢的主题的新闻、网站、杂志和书籍。在阅读时，尝试通过上下文猜出新单词的含义。然后，你可以通过纸质或网络词典确认其含义。
If there are television shows or films that you love in English, watch them with English subtitles to learn new words and hear how we say them.
如果有你喜欢的英文版的电视节目或电影，请观看英文字幕版学习新单词并听听我们是怎么说的。
Write about it
写下来
But, don't just read. Write! A great way to practice what you read is to write about it. For example, if you read a web story about the best fitness apps of 2018, write about it.
但是，不要仅仅是阅读，要动手写下来。练习所读内容的一个好办法就是写下来。例如，如果在你阅读有关2018年最佳健身APP的网络新闻时，把它写下来。
Another thing you can write about what is you did today. If you spent time with a friend or family member, went to an event, had a delicious meal or did something else, write about it!
你还可以写下来今天自己做了什么。如果你跟亲朋好友见面、去参加活动、品尝美食或是其它什么事情，请把它们写下来。
Learn word forms
学习词型转换
Here's another great technique:
以下是另一种很棒的技巧：
When you learn a new word, learn its other forms. For example, the word "sleepy" is an adjective. But it has noun, verb and adverb forms. You can make a word form chart in a note book or wireless device and write a sentence example for each form.
当你学到一个新单词时，请学习它的其它词型。例如，sleepy是个形容词。但是它还有名词、动词和副词形式。你可以在笔记本或无线设备上制作一个词型转换表格，并为各种词型造一个例句。
Use word association
利用单词关联
Another powerful memory tool is word association: using your imagination to create mental images linked to new words. For example, when I say, "tasty" what food image do you see in your mind? Keep that food image in your mind and always mentally connect it to the word "tasty." Then, the next time you try to remember the word "tasty," the mental image will appear.
另一种强大的记忆工具就是单词关联：发挥想象创造出跟新单词相关的意象。例如，当我说美味时，你会在脑海中看到什么食物形象？记住这个食物形象，并在心里将它同美味这个单词联系起来。然后，下次当你试图想起美味这个单词时，这幅意象就会出现。
And that's Ask a Teacher.
以上就是名师答疑的全部内容。
I'm Alice Bryant.
我是爱丽丝·布莱恩特。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)
