Grammar or Vocabulary?

Which is More Important to Become an Effective Communicator in English?

I’ve been teaching English and Coaching professionals for over 25 years. Every student I have tells me ‘I need to improve my grammar.’

Read on to get another point of view and some tips on how you can make remembering new words fun.

So what do you think? Grammar or vocabulary?

Which one is more important? Are they equally important?

Let me ask you another question.

When was the last time you went to a foreign country where you did not know the language very well? Did you use a dictionary so people would understand you, or a grammar book?

Or did you use a translator? If you used a translator, which words do you think you remember best from those translations - the grammar words or the vocabulary words?

I am willing to bet that you remember the vocabulary and not the grammar, and that you used a dictionary and NOT a grammar book.

So is grammar not important?

Of course it is. They are both important. And I LOVE grammar. I annoy my friends by correcting their grammar all the time.

You wouldn't believe the mistakes that native English speakers make when they write and speak. I sometimes want to shout at them, 'My students can write more correct English than you!'

But that would not make me many friends, would it?

So, what about vocabulary? Do you have a point Emma?

Yes, I do, and it is this.

Without vocabulary you are mute - silent, unable to speak.

Without words nobody can understand you.

Let me say that again. Without words nobody can understand you.

Even if you have perfect grammar structures, you won't be able to communicate unless you have words to add to that structure.

Think about this scenario. You are in a foreign country and you want to go to the beach. You know how to ask 'Where is the...' with perfect grammar. But what if you don't know the word 'beach'?

Answer? You won't be going to the beach!

Ah, I see where you’re going with this vocabulary thing

Now I know that was a simple example, but you get the idea.

No words, no communication.

If you know the word 'Beach' in your chosen foreign language, then you can stop someone and say (with raised shoulders and a rising 'questioning' intonation) 'Beach?'

The chances are they will understand you are looking for the beach.

OK. So should I stop learning grammar?

Well, ... no. And yes.

I want you to stop worrying so much about grammar.

In English you will probably have learnt a good foundation of grammar after about 2 years of studying.

Now ask yourself WHY you are learning English.

Is it to be able to communicate with people in English? I really hope the answer is ‘Yes’ because that is why I and most teachers started teaching - to help people learn to speak our language - to communicate with other people. If so, then you need vocabulary.

Do you need English to communicate effectively at work, to advance your career? Then you will need vocabulary to do your that.

Being able to write an email using perfect grammar is not going to be much help if you have the wrong words.

But learning and REMEMBERING new words is really hard! I know, I live in Romania and I try to remember new words all the time, and it is difficult.

So what do I do?

Here are some tips:

1.    Find patterns in words. If you can fit a word into a pattern that you already know, it helps you to remember it.

E.g. words that end in -ise familiarise, realise, socalise etc.

2.    Look for word families so that you learn several words at the same time.

E.g. a house, to house someone, housing, a housing estate, a housemate, renovate your house, do up your house.

3.    Say the words out loud - sometimes they remind you of something else, and that helps you to remember them.

E.g. mouse sounds like house. A mouse lived in a house.

4.    Make pictures with the words, or write them out in funny ways. Mind maps are great things for building and remembering new words.

Here is a simple mind map for The Environment:

Notice the colours? They help you to remember too.

You can group the words in any way you want. You could put all positive words and phrases on the left and all the negative ones on the right. You could focus only on nouns and adjectives, or think about which adverbs could go with the verbs?

Hey! I can see some words that go together.

Yes! They're called collocations.

In English, words often come along with other words in groups. You need both or all of them to really be able to use the word. Learn new words is these collocation groups.

E.g. fossil fuels, pollute the environment, renewable energy

5. Notice weird differences in English compared to your language

For example, in many languages we ‘make a photo’. But in English we ‘take a photo’. Take it where??? Weird, no?

?So, any final words of wisdom?

DO...

• ...play with the language and new words.
• ...look for patterns, compare it to your language, find similarities and weird differences. All these will help you remember.
• ...make big colourful mind maps.

DON’T...

• ...make boring lists of vocabulary.
• ...worry too much about your grammar.

Be a child again! Play!

Message me for a free 30-minute strategy session if you'd like to improve your job performance and secure future career opportunities by advancing your communication skills in English.