Improve teen’s vocabulary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how to improve conversational vocab? I read voraciously as a kid until I was about 15 so I’ve got a pretty solid vocabulary without conscious effort and I can express myself well in writing if I have a second to think about it. When speaking off the cuff in everyday conversation though my diction is....plain.....at best and downright idiotic at times. I wish I spoke more eloquently/ornately but it’s like it’s impossible for my brain to access anything remotely flowery without some lead time.

People always push read, read, read... but you need to watch pop culture to learn conversation.

Americans speak in colloquialisms. I can tell when a non native speaker was taught England English because they don't learn how to have a conversation in English.

How's it going? What's good? What's up?
Let's get crackin
Piece of cake
Scoot over
That's cool or hot or sick or <fill in the newest thing that means good>

OP's gripe isn't about conversation, I'm pretty sure her kid knows what 'piece of cake' means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how to improve conversational vocab? I read voraciously as a kid until I was about 15 so I’ve got a pretty solid vocabulary without conscious effort and I can express myself well in writing if I have a second to think about it. When speaking off the cuff in everyday conversation though my diction is....plain.....at best and downright idiotic at times. I wish I spoke more eloquently/ornately but it’s like it’s impossible for my brain to access anything remotely flowery without some lead time.

People always push read, read, read... but you need to watch pop culture to learn conversation.

Americans speak in colloquialisms. I can tell when a non native speaker was taught England English because they don't learn how to have a conversation in English.

How's it going? What's good? What's up?
Let's get crackin
Piece of cake
Scoot over
That's cool or hot or sick or <fill in the newest thing that means good>

OP's gripe isn't about conversation, I'm pretty sure her kid knows what 'piece of cake' means.

She is not talking about her kids. Reading comprehension please.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for its reading. But if you have an older kid whose missed the boat, that’s tough. Telling kids to read isn’t helpful if they don’t enjoy it.

My kids love to read and had the vocabulary. And for them EC debate in middle school was what pulled their level of conversation up in an amazing way.

If your kid really doesn’t have the vocab, the words can be memorized. And you can help by using the vocab in conversation and turning NPR on in the car. If they know the words but aren’t using them, try public speaking— debate, model un, toastmasters...