Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Learning English Vocabulary

Have you ever been in this situation: painstakingly writing down vocabulary words, confident you've memorized them, only to find out three days later that you've forgotten everything? Or when taking the TOEIC exam, you see a word that looks very familiar but can't remember its meaning?

Don't be quick to blame yourself for having a "goldfish brain." The problem isn't your memory, but your learning method. Many Vietnamese people are wasting their efforts because they make basic mistakes when learning vocabulary.

Below are the 5 most common mistakes and how to fix them so that vocabulary sticks firmly in your head.

1. Learn vocabulary in a "dead" way (Learn words individually, in isolation)

This is the most common mistake: creating a long list like Book = Book, Table = Table, etc.

This method of learning vocabulary is called "dead" vocabulary learning. This is because in English, a single word can have many meanings depending on the context. Furthermore, learning individual words prevents you from knowing how to combine them into sentences.

👉 Solution: Learn collocations or entire sentences. Instead of just learning "Decision ," learn " Make a decision."

2. Prioritizing quantity over quality.

Many students set a goal: "I must memorize 50 new words every day." The result is that they are enthusiastic on the first day, exhausted on the second, and give up on the third day because they are overwhelmed.

The brain needs time to "process" information. Cramming too much at once only creates short-term memory.

👉 Solution: "Slow and steady wins the race." Just 10-15 words a day, but understanding them deeply, remembering them well, and knowing how to use them effectively will be a hundred times more effective.

3. Ignore pronunciation (Learn only visually)

Many people only pay attention to the spelling and Vietnamese meaning, ignoring the phonetic transcription. The consequence is:

• You can't pronounce that word (or you pronounce it incorrectly, making it difficult for others to understand).
• When listening (Listening Parts 1–4), you may not recognize the word even if you know its meaning, because the sound you hear is quite different from the sound you imagine in your head.

👉 Solution: Always look up the pronunciation and listen to the audio sample when learning new words. Listening, reading, and looking must all work together simultaneously.

4. Learning words that are too difficult or rarely used.

If your goal is communication or taking the TOEIC exam, don't try to learn overly academic or archaic vocabulary that only appears in 19th-century literature. This is both time-consuming and impractical.

👉 Solution: Focus on core vocabulary. For TOEIC, prioritize business topics (business, office, travel, shopping, etc.).

5. Not reviewing (Forgetting the curve rules)

According to scientific research, we forget 80% of new knowledge within 24 hours if we don't review it. Many students finish lesson 1 and move on to lesson 2, never looking back at the previous lesson.

That's why you find every word familiar but can't remember its meaning.

👉 Solution: Apply the Spaced Repetition method. Review vocabulary at key times: after 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Conclude

Vocabulary is the "backbone" of language. Changing your learning methods today will save you hundreds of hours of wasted study time. Don't turn vocabulary learning into a burden; turn it into a natural habit.

"Hack" your vocabulary super fast with Lingoland

If you find it too complicated to find examples, check pronunciations, or schedule your study time yourself, let technology help you. Lingoland is designed to completely overcome these 5 common mistakes:

• ✅ Learn vocabulary in context: Each vocabulary word comes with illustrative examples, visual images, and practical application exercises, helping you understand deeply and remember for a long time.
• ✅ Standardized pronunciation: Audio files with authentic native accents help you train your ear and mouth simultaneously, providing strong support for the Listening test.
• ✅ Topics closely related to TOEIC: The application selectively includes the 600 most essential TOEIC vocabulary words and 3000 commonly used words, avoiding unnecessary vocabulary.
• ✅ Learn with smart flashcards: Each vocabulary word is presented on a visually appealing flashcard with its meaning, pronunciation, examples, and vivid illustrations.
• ✅ Diverse learning game system (Gamification): Matching cards, listening to sounds and guessing words, looking at meanings and guessing words, true/false guesses… making learning as fun as playing games.
• ✅ Timely review reminders: The app automatically calculates when you're about to forget something and reminds you to review, ensuring vocabulary is stored in your long-term memory.

👉 Download Lingoland now to experience the feeling of "learning vocabulary that's as fun as playing a game"!