Over the last few articles we have shown different methods for learning new words, but probably the method most people use is to learn from others.

Most Scrabble games contain at least one or two challenges. Use these words as the building blocks for learning new words. Last night for instance the words GOOG and SCORIAE were challenged.

GOOG is clearly a back hook for GOO, but what are the others ?

Does SCORIAE anagram to anything else ? What if the C was substituted for a blank – what bonuses can be made ?

It is important to remember that everyone comes with their own history of words.

A gardener would know SEQUOIA, but may not know the medical ILIA. Neither may know a statistician’s word, MEDIANS.

So if these words are challenged.. what associated lists can we make ?

SEQUOIA contains all 5 vowels. Are there any other 7 letter words that do this ?

ILIA contains three vowels including two Is. Are there others ? Are there any useful hooks to ILIA ?

MEDIANS has several anagrams, and contains the letters SANDIE. This is a relatively useful six letter stem, as you can make 38 words if you had SANDIE + a blank.

Reading books and listening/watching radio/TV are useful source of words. If a novel is set in a foreign country, it is likely that indigenous words are used. Think of the song “Waltzing Matilda” and SWAGMAN and BILLABONG immediately spring to mind.

Word learning may sometimes seem to be a random process:  learning words by accident as they played against you.

Sometimes words can be learnt by rote, or by using mnemonics, stories or word families.

Find the method which works best for you… and enjoy your learning!