The word journal VocaNum
Explore the indexA little curiosity about language. A clearer understanding of your English.
41 articles to think with, and put into practice.A lasting place to start
Learn what vocabulary-size tests actually count, why different tests give different totals, and how to interpret an English vocabulary estimate without overclaiming.
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Questions, observations, and something to try.
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New questions and lasting ideas. There is more than one way in.
01–12 of 41 articles
Newest firstA vocabulary quiz can do more than measure memory. Research on retrieval practice shows when trying to recall a word can strengthen the memory itself.
Skilled readers do not inspect every word equally. Eye-tracking research shows how skipping, parafoveal vision, predictability, and lexical knowledge make reading more efficient.
Research suggests that the language you use can shift some decisions — but not because a second language simply makes you more rational.
Why can you know a word's meaning, feel certain it is in memory, and still fail to say it? Tip-of-the-tongue research reveals where lexical access can break down.
Language comprehension is partly predictive: context can pre-activate likely meanings and sometimes word forms before they arrive. Here is what changes in a second language.
Why bilinguals can feel more outgoing, serious, direct, or reserved in another language — and why that does not necessarily mean they have two personalities.
A swear word can mean exactly the same thing in two languages and still feel different. Bilingual emotion research helps explain why.
Retrieval practice works better when mistakes get corrected. But should you see the answer immediately, or can delaying feedback make memory stronger?
A practical guide to CEFR English levels, what you can do at A1–C2, how skills can differ, and how to estimate your current level.
The English you can use in an easy conversation may become harder to access when the task demands more reasoning, planning, and monitoring. Here is why.
Learn how to think more directly in English with a practical routine that builds faster links between meaning, familiar phrases, and speech.
Looking up every unknown word can break your reading flow, but waiting can cost useful learning. Here is what research says about when to check a word.