Online Class: Vocabulary Building

Build a larger vocabulary and work on writing skills. A self-paced course with writing assignments, exercises and quizzes to increase fluency in spoken and written English.
Self-Paced, Online Class
Burlingame Public Library
 
  • 11
    Lessons
  • 25
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 5,418
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 5
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.5
    CEUs
  •  
    Video Audit
    Available
 
 
 

Course Description

Elevate Your Communication: A Comprehensive Vocabulary Enhancement Course

In an era of rapid communication, where each word can make an impact, your vocabulary stands as a beacon of your knowledge, adaptability, and clarity. Whether you're a budding writer, an aspiring public speaker, or simply someone who values articulate communication, this course offers the perfect pathway to elevate your language skills.

Have you ever felt that hesitation in conversation, unable to find the precise word to convey your thoughts? Studies have shown that individuals with a robust vocabulary command greater attention, enjoy clearer conversations, and often leave lasting impressions. A study conducted in 2022 revealed that enhanced vocabulary skills contribute significantly to career advancement, fostering better interpersonal relationships and understanding.

Course Overview:

"Vocabulary Building" aims to fortify your existing language arsenal with nuanced words apt for day-to-day interactions. This isn't about bombarding you with archaic words but enlightening you with versatile terms that can enrich your daily conversations.

A fortified vocabulary isn't just an academic tool—it's a life skill. It aids in:

  1. Precision in Expression: Articulate your thoughts, feelings, and observations with unparalleled clarity.
  2. Professional Growth: Stand out in job interviews, presentations, or negotiations.
  3. Building Relationships: Engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with peers, family, and professionals.
  4. Academic Excellence: Enhance comprehension and writing skills, essential for excelling in assignments and examinations.

Tailored Learning Experience:

Our course sits perfectly between basic and advanced levels, designed for the vast majority who wish to propel their intermediate language skills to greater heights. With a focus on practical application, the curriculum involves reading in varied contexts, crafting sentences, and engaging in interactive exercises and quizzes.

Moreover, in a unique offering, our seasoned instructors will provide personalized feedback on your written submissions, ensuring that learning is both interactive and constructive.

Course Breakdown:

  1. Introduction: Dive into the importance of vocabulary enhancement and set the pace for your linguistic journey.
  2. Read, Read, and Read: Understand the power of reading as a tool for vocabulary expansion, exploring diverse genres and authors.
  3. Synonyms & Antonyms: Delve deep into the world of similar and opposite words, enhancing depth and variation in expression.
  4. Homonyms & Homographs: Master the art of context with words that sound or look alike but differ in meaning.
  5. Words of Foreign Origin: Embrace the global nature of English, exploring words borrowed from different languages.
  6. Misleading Words: Navigate the tricky terrain of words that often confuse, ensuring precision in usage.
  7. Power Words: Unearth words that command attention, perfect for persuasive writing and impactful speeches.
  8. Verbal Analogies: Enhance logical thinking by drawing comparisons between words and ideas.
  9. Vocabulary-Building Exercises: Regular practice modules to consolidate learning and test progress.

The world of words is vast, diverse, and incredibly fascinating. With each session, you'll discover not just new words, but new worlds, ideas, and expressions. As British writer W. Somerset Maugham once said, "The crown of literature is poetry. It is its end and aim. It is the sublimest activity of the human mind. It is the achievement of beauty and delicacy."

Why remain confined to a limited linguistic palette when a spectrum of words awaits you? Embark on this enriching journey, and witness the transformation in your communication, confidence, and comprehension. Enroll today and pave your path to linguistic excellence!

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Course Motivation

Our worth is often measured by our words. The richer your vocabulary is, the richer your opportunities will be.
 
Are you worried that your vocabulary just doesn't measure up? Is boosting your word power a top priority?
 
Making an effort to improve your vocabulary can pay off in a number of important ways:
  • Strengthening your writing skills
  • Improving your public speaking presence
  • You’ll sound smarter
  • Your confidence will soar
  • Your horizons will be broadened
If you feel that your current vocabulary is below par, and want to strengthen your communication skills and impact, then this self-paced, self-contained course is right up your alley.
 
As long as you have a middle to high school reading level and an earnest desire and commitment to learn, by the time you complete this course, you'll have a broader vocabulary and greater confidence in your written and verbal skills.
 
Across a total of ten comprehensive lessons (complete with links, resources and other reading materials) you'll add nearly 200 new words to your working vocabulary. More than that, though, you’ll be provided with a simple and effective way to add even more words by learning the essentials of reading in context.
 
Never again will you have to be held down by the limitations of a stunted vocabulary. Best of all, because enrollment is open 24/7, there's no reason to keep putting things off. Register today to improve your life by enriching your vocabulary.
Looking for a competitive edge in your next job interview?
 
Do you wish you could "hold your own" in discussions and debates amongst experts like doctors, lawyers and big business executives?
 
Have you ever humiliated yourself at dinner parties or other social settings by using a word incorrectly or pronouncing it wrong?
 
Are you concerned that your working vocabulary is below par, or that it’s blocking your from taking your life and career to the next level?
 
 
If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, then Instructor Cathleen Glenn’s course on constructing a better, broader, everyday vocabulary will be a perfect fit for your situation--no matter how hopeless you feel that situation may be!
 
Before you can enroll, there are two pre-requisites that must first be met: 
  1. A middle to high school reading level (with a real comfort with the English language)
  2. Access to a hard copy dictionary and thesaurus (You don't even have to buy one--you can check them out from your local library)
In the end, your results are five-fold: 
  • To learn nearly 200 new words or phrases
  • To unearth the secret of reading in context
  • To know and use the words both in general conversation and in written sentences
  • To establish a pattern of memorizing any new words you’ll come across
  • Increasing your confidence and comfort level when using new words for the first few times

Over the course of an introduction and 10 self-paced, self-contained lessons:

Lesson 1: Read, Read & Read

Lesson 2: Synonyms

Lesson 3: Synonyms continued

Lesson 4: Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs

Lesson 5: Words of Foreign Origin

Lesson 6: Misleading Words

Lesson 7: Power Words

Lesson 8: Knowing Antonyms

Lesson 9: Verbal Analogies

Lesson 10: More Vocabulary Building Exercises

The lessons include assignments, quizzes and class forum participation that earn points towards your final average grade. Lessons must be completed sequentially. You can’t access Lessons 2 & 3 until you’ve first finished your coursework for Lesson 1.
 
If you encounter questions or areas that leave you confused, you can contact your instructor directly at any time by using the Class Email Forum under the Communications tab in the main classroom area. Within three or four days, her response will show up in your own email in-box.
 
Buffing up your vocabulary can be rewarding in many ways...
  • You can gain respect in your social circle
  • You’ll encourage your intellectual development
  • You’ll develop your personality
  • You’ll increase your skill at influencing people
  • You’ll enjoy clearer thinking and reading
  • And it can help your put your career on the fast-track!

Unlike many classes, Vocabulary Building doesn't require that you wait around twiddling your thumbs, waiting for enrollment to open. Instead of wasting time, you have the freedom to register today--right now even! If you're sick and tired of feeling foolish, then the smart thing to do is to do something about. Now that you're all out of excuses, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Areas of Study
 
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.4 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(2,969 votes)

  • Introduction

    An introduction to the course and an explanation of what will be required for lessons and assignments.

  • Lesson 2: Read, Read, and Read

    The quickest way to expand your vocabulary is to read.

  • Lesson 3: Synonyms

    We'll focus on a review of words that have similar meanings.

  • Lesson 4: Synonyms Continued

    More work on synonyms.

  • Lesson 5: Homonyms and Homographs

    Pairs that are often confused, and how to keep them straight.

  • Lesson 6: Words of Foreign Origin

    Words from other countries that English has "borrowed."

  • Lesson 7: Misleading Words

    Words that don't mean what they sound like, or words that sound like other words.

  • Lesson 8: Power Words

    Power words are words that can evoke an emotional response when they are read or heard.

  • Lesson 9: Knowing Antonyms

    Knowing the antonym of a word will increase your ability to understand and remember the word.

  • Lesson 10: Verbal Analogies

    Testing your knowledge of words with verbal analogies.

  • Lesson 11: More Vocabulary-Building Exercises

    Various vocabulary exercises
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe the best practices to build vocabulary.
  • Define and use synonyms.
  • Define and use homonyms and homographs.
  • Define and use words of foreign origin.
  • Recognize misleading words.
  • Define and use power words.
  • Define and use antonyms.
  • Define and use verbal analogies.
  • Summarize vocabulary building exercises to use daily.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Vocabulary Building
Course Number: 57700123
Lessons Rating: 4.4 / 5 Stars (2,969 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is fully available online in all 50 states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. It’s also offered in major English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
Last Updated: June 2024
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.5 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Dana Kristan
Syllabus: View Syllabus

Student Testimonials

  • "I really enjoyed this course. It was my first vocabulary course and I was really impressed with everything I learned." -- Erika S.
  • "The instructor was great. I could ask for no better. She was fair, insightful, intelligent, she often gave comments that helped me and was very inspirational. She is a wonderful instructor and I would be delighted to have her as an instructor again." -- Lori D.
  • "All of it was helpful!" -- Sharon J.
  • "Enjoyed the course! The class was very helpful, I really loved improving my vocabulary...Thank God that I had six months to complete the course because I became ill during the time that I was register." -- Lillian J.
  • "The instructor was excellent. She was thorough and prompt. She contributed a real human touch to this computerized classwork." -- Gretchen T.
  • "I found the lessons to be very helpful. I really enjoyed this Instuctor, she was very nice and extremly helpful." -- Kellie R.
  • "I really enjoyed being able to print the text and read it at my leisure." -- Juree H.
  • "The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and like I said got back to me almost immediately." -- Donna N.
  • "My instructor was EXCELLENT! She also was instructive, patient, and encouraging during this course. All parts of course were helpful, I have an increased knowledge and awareness of words when reading or writing." -- Helen M.
  • "The instructor was very helpful, encouraging, and positive." -- James L.

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