Learning English can feel like running on a treadmill—same pace, same moves, and no scenery change. That’s why the real secret is variety. The more ways you challenge your brain, the better it sticks. In this two-part series, we’re breaking down some creative, research-backed ways to keep new vocabulary in your memory for the long haul.

Today, we’ll cover three methods: switch it up, make it visual, and borrow from your favourite shows.

1. Switch It Up 🔄

Most learners know they should “study a little every day,” but here’s what most people don’t realize: doing the same thing every day can make your brain tune out. Your memory thrives on novelty. That’s why if you listen to a podcast one day, try journaling the next, and maybe doing a role-play or voice memo the following day—you’re tricking your brain into paying attention.

👉 Try this approach when learning a new word like magnificent:

• 📺 Find it in media — search a YouTube clip, TED Talk, or news headline where the word appears. This shows you how native speakers really use it.
• ✍️ Rewrite it in your own world — slip it into a funny story, journal entry, or even a text to a friend.

💡 Insider tip: Your brain loves variety. Studies show that mixing how you practice words leads to deeper memory encoding — so don’t just stick to one routine.

2. Make It Visual 🎨

Flashcards are nice, but visuals can go way deeper than just a word and definition. When you pair a word with a strong image, your brain doesn’t just remember the word—it remembers the story around it. That’s why “apple” is easy to recall (we see apples all the time), but words like “meticulous” or “hesitant” fade away—they don’t have a natural image.

👉 If you’re learning the word fragile, try:

• 🎭 Draw it out — sketch a cracked vase or a broken glass with “fragile” underneath. (Your art skills don’t matter—your brain will still remember it!)
• 🖼️ Use images — search Pinterest or Google Images for “fragile things” and save a few examples in a “vocab mood board.”
• 🧠 Mind-map it — put “fragile” in the center of a paper and draw connections: delicate, weak, breakable.

💡 Insider tip: People remember pictures twice as well as words alone. This means one sketch or photo can lock a word into memory more effectively than five flashcard reviews.

3. Borrow from Your Favourite Shows 📺

Most teachers will tell you to “watch movies in English,” but they won’t tell you this: you’ll learn faster if you rewatch shows you already love—especially ones where you know the plot. Why? Because your brain isn’t distracted by “what happens next?”—it can focus on the language.

Why not make your binge-watching part of your study routine? TV shows, movies, and even reality TV are goldmines for natural vocabulary.

👉 Say you’re learning awkward:

• 🎬 Spot it in dialogue — find a scene where someone says “this is awkward” (The Office is perfect for this).
• 📝 Write the subtitles down — don’t just listen; pause and copy the exact line to train both your listening and writing.
• 🎤 Repeat the line in the same tone or emotion. Acting it out makes it memorable.

💡 Insider tip: Emotional memory is powerful. When you feel a word — like cringing at Michael Scott’s awkwardness — your brain wires it in stronger.

Final Thoughts 💭

Remember, vocabulary learning doesn’t have to be boring. By switching up your approach, making words visual, and pulling them from shows you already love, you’ll build stronger, lasting memories around each word.

👉 And don’t forget — this is just Part 1. In Part 2, we’ll cover even more advanced methods, like the Method of Loci (memory palaces) and using acronyms to make words unforgettable.

So stick around — your vocab game is about to level up. 🚀