What’s in a word?

Authors writing in a foreign language are often dissatisfied with their vocabulary range. However, consider this: what does it really mean to know a word? Is it enough to know its meaning or translation?

These issues were dealt with at the one-day course "Master Academic Vocabulary" that the AWC trainer Tatiana Golechkova ran on February 15. Tatiana offered a menu of effective strategies for searching, selecting, and memorizing relevant vocabulary. In a series of practical activities, course participants explored word-building, synonymy, and connotations as useful vocabulary building tools and also mastered AI-powered resources for vocabulary work. 

That was certainly a Saturday well-spent:

• “I had an opportunity to ask all my questions and get comprehensive answers that will help me build an effective strategy to publish my paper in an international journal. Thank you for your work and for sharing your knowledge!”
• “The course offered a lot of tools and sites, recommendations to notice vocabulary, and memorizing life hacks. I also really loved the trainer’s teaching style. I’ll use many of her ideas in my own teaching practice. Thank you!”
• “Google Translate is just a translator. Using a dictionary is like opening a new world of words! We learnt lots of different techniques for working with words, such as mind maps, flash cards, prompts for AI and many others.”

Do you still believe that an online translator is a more useful resource than a dictionary? Then apparently you should enroll for this course next year 🙂 As for this semester, the courses have just started, and we are waiting for your applications for one-day and one-month, online and face-to-face courses. Take your pick and join us!