You probably already know that summer is the best time to prepare for the school year ahead and strengthen your knowledge. By following a smart revision plan, you’ll start the year with more confidence in your skills and there won’t be surprises down the road.

We could not stress this enough though — study smart and don’t forget to enjoy your free time. Using the summertime to revise is a great way to make languages more fun by practising with friends outdoor and attending screenings and events in your target language. And why not, learn languages abroad.

We’re all for optimising time and resources so we came up with actionable tips to revise language vocab more effectively. Vocabulary is often one of the toughest areas to master because it’s very mnemonic — very few people enjoy memorising words out of context and with the risk of forgetting them within a few weeks.

Well, fear not because our PDF guide is quick, simple, and explains new fun vocabulary acquisition methods that you can start following today. Download it now for free.

Do I need a vocab revision plan?

If you’re studying a foreign language then, yes, you need a plan to help revise your vocabulary more effectively. It doesn’t matter whether you’re learning Spanish or Japanese, new words are the building blocks of your ability to express yourself in your target language — without them, you’ll feel lost and demotivated.

Studying for your GCSE or A levels? Whether you’re set to ace the AQA, Edexcel, Cambridge IGCSE, Edexcel IGCSE, WJEC, or Eduqas exam, you will need a revision plan. Learning alone or with a private tutor? Revising your vocabulary is the only way to ensure that all your efforts don’t go to waste.

The right revision method for you

We have years of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. We know that each learner is unique and forcing someone to follow a method they don’t enjoy is going to make them feel like a square peg in a round hole. It also defeats our main purpose in teaching foreign languages — learning should be fun and you should feel proud and empowered as you progress.

Our vocab revision guide includes 6 steps to successful revision. You can follow them all in the order we suggest for a complete, holistic approach. But you can also pick and choose the ones that best suit your learning style.

Different tools for different learners

For example, flashcards can be great fun, especially if you have a study buddy. You can challenge each other and help each other learn, and it may not even feel like you’re studying at all. They’re one of children’s favourite vocab revision methods and if you’re creative, you can easily make your own.

Yet, some students may find that flashcards aren’t stimulating enough and can even become predictable and repetitive, especially if they’re studying solo. These are usually people who can benefit greatly from technology and language apps.

How to revise language vocab effectively

In our guide, you will find several tips to make the most out of your vocab study sessions. You will also find that regardless of the specific tools and methods you decide to choose, the quickest and most effective way to learn is made of 3 moments:

• Organisation
• Visualisation
• Action

Organising your vocab

Having one notebook named ‘French vocab’ is useful to record new words but will only get you this far when it comes to actually learning them.

Before you can start revising, you will need to gather, group, and categorise words from all your sources (your textbooks, notebook, etc.) Our guide gives you the most effective way to do this.

Visualising new words

Word soups are fun but aren’t great to learn a new language. That’s why you need to see your new words in context, whether this is grammatical (false friends, irregular words, verbs, nouns, etc.), semantical (the meaning of a word) or functional (seeing this word in action with others.) We help you use different tools to do just that.

Taking action to own foreign vocab

Now that you’ve got the new words under control, it’s time to start playing with them! Most people learn best when writing (often multiple times) but there are tons of other ways to use vocab without getting bored. From audio recordings to post-it notes, we help you make active revision fun — whether you’re studying alone or as a team.

FAQs

When should I start revising language vocab for my GCSE?

Whether you’re facing your GCSE or A level exams next year, the best time to start preparing is the summer. That’s because you have more time to make revision fun without the added pressure of assignments, and you’ll feel more in control.

Summer revision also helps you start the school year with greater confidence — your final results can be heavily affected by your mental health and attitude.

Why is vocab revision important when studying languages?

Grammar is fun (at least for us it is!) and understanding foreign speakers is a magnificent feeling. However, without the building blocks of your sentences, you won’t be able to communicate. 

At the end of the day, whether you’re a grammar queen or a present-tense-only speaker, languages are made for humans to communicate with each other and expand our horizons. Vocabulary will help you do just that.

Is this vocab revision guide right for me?

If you’re studying a foreign language, yes it is! It will help you gain control of vocabulary, build your confidence, and have more tools to actually speak the language. It’s quick and effective and gives you examples of different revision methods that will help you make the memorising process fun.