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vocab learning program

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August 18, 2005, 12:27
bullfrog101
vocab learning program
i was wondering if anyone had tried out Vocaborama (http://www.vocaborama.com)
i've heard it's decent but they don't have a demo up for it and i wanted to know if anyone had tried it
August 18, 2005, 20:24
<Asa Lovejoy>
First, welcome to the nuthouse!

The site does have a demo button, but it is not yet active. This must be a very new site! It looks interesting, though.
August 19, 2005, 10:11
Kalleh
Yes, Welcome, Bullfrog!

I am always skeptical about "vocabulary builder" books and sites. In my humble view, it is best to just read!
August 19, 2005, 10:28
zmježd
A friend of mine at work, who is a Slovak, is currently reading Brave New World, and each morning we meet over coffee and discuss the words he was unfamiliar with, and how they are being used in the book, and what they mean. Fun for both of us.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
August 19, 2005, 11:38
Kalleh
That does sound like fun. Much to the dismay of many here (and to my daughter...because books are so important to them), in the back of my books I write a list of the words I don't know so that I can look them up later. I have tried keeping in small dictionary in my purse, but the small ones only have well-known words. I realize that books should be well-respected, but my theory is that keeping track of all the words I've learned from that new book is the highest of respect!
August 19, 2005, 12:17
bullfrog101
i tend to agree, but i have trouble keeping track of new words, so I was looking for some sort of aid...actually, what mainly interested me about that vocaborama program was that it says you can enter and save your own flashcards in it, so i felt like that might help me...then again, i really don't feel like dishing out 15 bucks for it...
August 19, 2005, 12:21
Kalleh
That's the other thing...I've never been a flashcard person, but that's just I. I know that many people love them and learn with them.
August 19, 2005, 13:17
Dianthus
quote:
Originally posted by bullfrog101:
i tend to agree, but i have trouble keeping track of new words, so I was looking for some sort of aid...actually, what mainly interested me about that vocaborama program was that it says you can enter and save your own flashcards in it, so i felt like that might help me...then again, i really don't feel like dishing out 15 bucks for it...


I've just had a look at the screenshots. You could make blank paper copies of the "flashcards" and carry them around with you. That method would work extremely well with foreign languages, especially if you have to take long bus or train journeys or do a lot of waiting around.
August 19, 2005, 19:34
<Asa Lovejoy>
quote:
Originally posted by zmjezhd:
A friend of mine at work, who is a Slovak, is currently reading Brave New World, and each morning we meet over coffee and discuss the words he was unfamiliar with, and how they are being used in the book, and what they mean. Fun for both of us.


This stuff IS fun! I used to volunteer as a discussion leader in a Jr. Great Books program. It's fun to get kids thinking critically, expanding their vocabulary, and expanding their concepts regarding the world. Of course, it sometimes works with adults too.
August 25, 2005, 16:13
Beth
Whether or not these sites work depends on who you are and what your goals are. I teach college freshmen, who generally have deplorable vocabs, and anything which can hold their interest by making vocabulary amusing or game-like will increase retention. This is also true of some adults. So we should not be so quick to write off some of this stuff just because we, the intellectuals, don't need it.

The site I use with students is Vocabulary University. I use it because it teaches words by families and Greek and Latin roots, which is the only way they can sensibly be taught. Try the following pages for samples:
http://www.vocabulary.com/rootonymdes.html
and
http://www.vocabulary.com/wordcity2.html

I think you may be surprisingly impressed. These are not dumb.

Beth J