I love learning words.
When I was learning Spanish, I kept a small notebook and wrote down every new word I came across.
The truth is, I’m still learning Spanish.
The fact is, I’ll always be a student of the language.
That’s why I keep writing down new words.
The process is simple:
Look up the word in a dictionary
Take a screenshot
Save it in a file
Add it to the notebook later
Yes, you will need a notebook—go buy one. I recommend a nice, expensive, A5-hardback one.
One that fits in your jacket pocket or handbag and that you can carry with you everywhere.
Why not? You're a student of English, and it’s a valuable tool.
And words are the fun part—the individual units of a language, far removed from the patterns and rules of grammar.
The frustrating thing is when you know the word but it doesn’t come to mind (viene a la memoria) when you need it.
But when you use the right word, in the right moment, it can leave someone speechless or dumbfounded, as one of our teachers was this week in class.
Buying a nice vocabulary notebook is one of the highest-leverage tactics for learning any language. Enormous benefits for little cost. Just a little consistency.
So remember to write down your favourite words.
An old friend gave me the list below. I rediscovered it in my inbox this week.
He was a student of English too.
It will be a good start for your new notebook.
Until next week.
Once you start building a vocabulary book it’s hard to stop
This week’s three tips:
SOMETHING TO AVOID 🫣
🤦🏻♀️ “I haven’t done it never”
You know the rules. No double negatives in English! You can’t say both haven’t and never in the same sentence.
✅ “I have never done it” or “I haven’t ever done it”
So only one negative. You can pick which one it is.
I have never heard that word before
I haven’t ever heard that word before
SOMETHING TO SOUND CONFIDENT 🧐
👔 Business expressions
“Value for money”
(Relación calidad-precio)
The concept of getting the best combination of quality, performance, and cost when purchasing a product or service. It doesn’t necessarily mean choosing the cheapest option, but rather ensuring that what you pay aligns with the benefits, utility, or satisfaction you receive.
A €50 pair of shoes that lasts 3 years offers better value for money than a €20 pair that falls apart in 6 months.
SOMETHING TO READ 👀
The old and the really old notebooks
Keep learning,
The Crystal Clear English Team
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