Building a Better Vocabulary: By Studying Words in Context

After finishing work on the fundamentals of English grammar and syntax, the Hispanic student is often looking for ways to increase his or her general vocabulary. To that end, this book is designed either for studying by oneself or for participating in an academic program. To adapt the text to the widest levels of language skills, the words chosen for study range from the relatively simple to the more complex. Then, as a first step in outlining the meaning of the word, its Spanish equivalent appears in italics immediately after its initial listing and its sounds-of-speech pronunciation. The full analysis of the word ends with a space for the student's using that word in a sentence. That analysis, including a listing of typical synonyms and antonyms, is followed by an end-of-section series of comprehension checks. In short, the student sees the impact of context on the meaning of a word, has a familiar Spanish word as an added help to understanding the word, learns something of its origin, has an immediate opportunity to use it, and gets acquainted wit its common synonyms and antonyms. Finally, each of the twelve 'chapters' contains a short discussion of a common mistake to be avoided or a desirable quality of language (e.g., reliance on 'action words') to be developed.