#319: Increase Speaking Vocabulary: How to Activate Passive Words

How many times have you thought: 

• “I study all the time, but I can’t find the right words when I need them. I just feel stuck.” 
• “I know the word, but why can’t I remember it when I’m speaking?” 
• “Why do I always remember words hours after a conversation is over?” 
• “It takes me so long to find my words in a conversation.”

Trust me. You’re not alone — I feel this way, too. In my native language, English! 

The truth is, there are just SO MANY words in the English language. In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary has just over 171,000 entries for words we currently use. And that doesn’t include all current jargon or slang! 

According to lexicographer and dictionary expert Susie Dent, “the average active vocabulary of an adult English speaker is around 20,000 words, while their passive vocabulary is around 40,000 words.” This means that most people understand far more words than they actively use, and that’s okay — it’s true for all of us!

So, it’s no surprise that while we may have learned thousands of words, we usually stick to the same set of vocabulary and have a hard time remembering some words when we need them most. 

But the good news is there are effective strategies you can use to increase your active speaking vocabulary. That means quickly remembering and using more of the words you’ve learned in your English conversations.

Increase Speaking Vocabulary: How to Activate Passive Words

Passive vs. Active Vocabulary

Passive vocabulary refers to the words you understand when you hear or read them, but you don’t necessarily use them in speaking or writing. You’ve learned the words and reviewed them, but when it’s time to speak, you can’t always recall them immediately.

It’s like knowing the notes of a song but not being able to play it smoothly.

Active vocabulary, on the other hand, consists of the words you can confidently use in your speech or writing. These words come to you naturally in conversations, just like playing a song without hesitation.

A common myth:

Myth: “If I study enough, I’ll remember the words when I need them.”

Reality: Studying alone isn’t enough. While it’s important to review vocabulary, the key to activating it lies in using it. The more you use a word, the easier it becomes to recall it in future conversations. Let’s explore some strategies to help you do just that.

Strategy #1: Write in Different Genres

Nothing can help you activate vocabulary more than writing. While it’s easy to save an Instagram post, repeat words multiple times, or make a note on your phone, nothing comes close to putting pen to paper. Writing activates different parts of your brain, helping you retain information better and recall it when you need it.

How to Use Writing to Activate Vocabulary:

1. Carry a mini notebook in your bag or pocket. Whenever you come across a new word, write it down and make sure to include the context or sentence. Then, when studying, write down the definition and create your own example sentence.
2. Create mind maps. A mind map is an effective way to activate the words you’ve learned before and create strong associations to synonyms, antonyms, other ideas, and topics.
3. Use a reference to write. Choose a video, an article, or even a blog post to write about. Highlight or take note of any sentences that align with what you’d like to say when you write about it. Then, write your opinion about the selected medium, using the sentences you noted earlier as your guide.
4. Expand to different genres. Try creative writing, emails, reports, or even social media posts. Writing in different formats helps activate different sets of vocabulary.
5. Incorporate Spaced Retrieval Practice. After writing and journaling, revisit the vocabulary you’ve noted over increasing intervals or longer time periods (e.g., after a day, a week, and then a month). Actively test yourself on these words by writing new sentences or using them in conversations. This practice strengthens your memory and helps transfer words from your passive to your active vocabulary.

Strategy #2: Shadow English Speakers

Shadowing involves listening to English speakers and repeating what they say immediately. It’s particularly effective for improving pronunciation, fluency, and activating vocabulary because it forces you to process and produce language rapidly.

How to Practice Shadowing:

1. Choose a short video or audio clip with clear speech.
2. Listen to a sentence, pause, and repeat it out loud, matching the speaker’s speed and intonation.
3. Gradually increase the length of the clip you shadow as you become more comfortable.

This practice not only helps with vocabulary activation but also enhances your overall speaking skills.

Strategy #3: Teach and Explain

Teaching new vocabulary to someone else or explaining concepts in English is a powerful way to reinforce your own understanding and activate passive vocabulary.

How to Use Teaching as a Strategy:

1. Peer teaching: Partner with a friend or classmate and take turns explaining new words or concepts to each other.
2. Online forums: Participate in language learning forums where you can answer questions or explain vocabulary to others.
3. Study groups: Join or create a study group where you can discuss and teach each other. Need a recommendation? Join the Confident Women Community!

Teaching forces you to recall vocabulary in real time, solidifying your grasp on the words.

Strategy #4: Use Vocabulary in Multiple Contexts

Actively try to use new vocabulary in different contexts or settings. This deepens your understanding of the words and makes them easier to recall in conversations.

How to Apply This Strategy:

1. Structured speaking exercises: Engage in speaking exercises focused on specific vocabulary, like describing your day using only new words you’ve learned.
2. Discussion topics: Participate in discussions where you use vocabulary on specific topics you’re reading about or listening to via podcasts, for example.

Using words in varied situations helps reinforce them in your active memory.

Strategy #5: Engage in Active Reading and Listening

Active reading and listening involve focusing on new vocabulary while consuming content and then immediately using those words in speaking or writing.

How to Practice Active Reading and Listening:

1. Select a text or audio clip: Choose something that interests you, like an article, podcast, or video.
2. Highlight new vocabulary: As you read or listen, make a note of any new words or phrases.
3. Use immediately: After finishing, write a summary or discuss the content using the new vocabulary.

This immediate use of new vocabulary helps transition it from passive to active knowledge.

Strategy #6: Have Real Conversations

Finally, have real English conversations to strengthen your automaticity with passive vocabulary.

The more you repeat your target vocabulary in various conversations, the quicker you’ll recall them in any conversation.

How to Practice This Strategy:

1. Start conversations with friends, coworkers, or even strangers. If you don’t feel comfortable striking up conversations, consider joining an English conversation circle or community.
2. Find a speaking partner: Use online forums or join an online speaking community to connect with others. A committed speaking partner contributes toward consistent conversation with someone you trust and feel comfortable with, making it easier to try out new vocabulary and feel okay with mistakes. Need a recommendation? Inside the Confident Women Community, we help our members find ideal speaking partners.
3. Start a daily journaling habit. If you’ve watched my videos for a while then you know I love, love, love a speaking journal habit. Just like a written journal, a speaking journal is a way to capture information about your day, something you completed, something you saw, or simply a to-do list… but you’re speaking, not writing. Journaling every day is a great way to consciously use the vocabulary you’d like to bring into active memory.

As you select a strategy to get started, remember this: repetition builds automaticity.

Now, it’s time for you to take the next step forward.

Which of today’s strategies will you be using to activate your passive vocabulary? Do you have any other effective strategies for activating passive language? 

Share your comments and questions with me anytime—you can do that in the comments below. 😊

All my best,

~ Annemarie

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