This post is dedicated to learning and applying new lexis in English Olympiads. As I've already published several posts dedicated to this topic, today I'll tailor my advice to the competitions specifically and will focus on the books that I used in my preparation. 😃
💘 Please check out the posts about word memorization techniques and the use of reliable dictionaries.
💙 Overall, different stages of the Olympiad require varying CEFR levels, although, personally, I never chased after the proof that I have B2, C1, or C2.
🫧While the final stage requires a solid C1-C2 in English, one can pass to the regional stage with B2+.
General tips for learning new vocabulary:
💐 I recommend using Miro for recording new words, instead of using paper notebooks. I've tried both of the formats, and I prefer the digital resource much more. Even though Miro might not be the simplest medium to navigate and use for active recall, the visual aspect will come in handy.
💙However, be careful with potential overloads! For example, one of my old Miro boards contains 2116 objects, most of which are sticky notes with vocab.
💐 The next step is to consolidate the words by using them in your writing tasks, which is one of the most effective ways to practice applying the lexis in context. It does not have to be a full writing task: a small, 150-word text will do.
💙Don't forget to use such apps as Anki and Quizlet for spaced repetition! Personally, I used Anki App flashcards, where I included most of the C2 vocabulary we covered during the Vzlet sessions.
By the way, here is the link to the Anki Bitesize Study Group, which has most of the vocabulary items posted in the channel.
Why is vocab important?
💘Listening and reading:
Sometimes, knowing or not knowing a certain word can make or break your final score. For example, during the zakl of 2023, the participants had to know the word "apparition" (which basically means "ghost") to complete the first listening task. It was harder to understand the recording without knowing this word.
🫧Moreover, the word formation task in the reading part requires you to know how to form relatively complex word choices and put them in the appropriate context. For instance, the contestants had to form the word "fandom" from "fan" in the meaning "the state of being a fan", not "a community of fans". (I put in "fanship" in that task, lmao.)
💘 The Use of English:
This entire part is built on the knowledge of vocabulary, especially in the final stage tasks. Even if we're talking about the traditional multiple-choice fill-in-the-gaps task, the knowledge of collocations and the subtle shades of meaning is crucial. At zakl, one should be acquainted with C1-C2 level words, as well as their pronunciation, connotations, and various meanings. Sometimes, even commonplace colloquial phrases may be of help.
Storytime ☕️
Throughout the lessons at the Moscow Region Team there have been cases when my external English knowledge would help me out with Olympiad tasks. For instance, I'd remember the verb "to contract" in the meaning "to fall ill" from the video game The Oregon Trail, or my love for economic strategic computer games helped me out while I was solving one of the crosswords: I could easily conjure up the word "geothermal". Finally, I remember doing a phrasal verbs task, where "to care for" in the meaning "to be interested in" was used. I had heard this specific verb in one of the episodes of The Snoopy Show on Apple TV.
Жду ваши 💓
#knowhow