How to Express Yourself with Intermediate Vocabulary

Do you find yourself using the same adjectives over and over again? I'm British and study Spanish, but even when I’m speaking English, I describe experiences as “good”, “nice”, “really good” or “okay” over and over again.

Is it a problem for language learners? I can feel like a bit of an idiot if I describe everything in Spanish as “bueno” or “interesante”, but how much does it matter?

A good narrative does not need a hundred adjectives. Adding little details and your own personality is just as important. At the beginner stage, it is easier to memorise adjectives than to master irregular verbs. When you’re at the intermediate stage, a bigger vocabulary is great, but you should practice or show off all the sentence structures you’ve learned.

How could it work? Are you seeing New Year's Eve fireworks? You could say they were astonishing, incredible or breathtaking, or you say they were “great” and then add a few details:

We loved it! I could have watched it for an hour. It was the perfect end to the day.
This example has simple vocabulary, but demonstrates the strengths of someone with intermediate English. If you don’t know lots of descriptive words, you can still express your reactions.

The best way to improve your vocabulary is by reading and writing as much as you can. You can improve your fluidity by speaking and listening, but your vocab will grow more slowly.

A smaller vocab set does not stop you from expressing yourself: think about your reactions, your opinions and your feelings.
January 15, 2020
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Natalie

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United Kingdom
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Hi! I'm Natalie, I'm a qualified ESL teacher living in London, born and raised in England. I also have a degree in English and American literature, and I specialise in teaching intermediate and advanced students. Book a trial lesson if you want to practise English in a fun, interesting and conversational way. I encourage my students to talk about their passions, and I'm ready to correct or guide you as much as you want. I *always* plan lessons based on *your* needs and interests, so tell me about yourself, your English goals and your hobbies - this one-on-one time is all about giving you the exact help you need, in a way which is relevant to your life. Ask Me About: - Advanced written English - British culture and media - My language learning experience (I can speak German and some Spanish!) My qualifications: - 120-hour CELTA teaching certificate with real classroom experience - 200+ lessons on Verbling. On average, my students book more than 15 sessions with me. - Undergraduat...
Flag
English
globe
United Kingdom
time
252
Speaks:
English
Native
,
German
C2
,
Spanish
B1
,
Swedish
Hi! I'm Natalie, I'm a qualified ESL teacher living in London, born and raised in England. I also have a degree in English and American literature, and I specialise in teaching intermediate and advanced students. Book a trial lesson if you want to practise English in a fun, interesting and conversational way. I encourage my students to talk about their passions, and I'm ready to correct or guide you as much as you want. I *always* plan lessons based on *your* needs and interests, so tell me about yourself, your English goals and your hobbies - this one-on-one time is all about giving you the exact help you need, in a way which is relevant to your life. Ask Me About: - Advanced written English - British culture and media - My language learning experience (I can speak German and some Spanish!) My qualifications: - 120-hour CELTA teaching certificate with real classroom experience - 200+ lessons on Verbling. On average, my students book more than 15 sessions with me. - Undergraduat...
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