Hu Min learns vocabulary through reading stories: IELTS Vocabulary (CD-ROM Edition)

Author: Hu Min
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Vocabulary is the cornerstone of language learning. Traditionally, students' methods of memorizing words are not only monotonous and boring but also extremely inefficient. I have spent tremendous effort memorizing words, yet sometimes I still feel completely lost. In light of this, we want to introduce a new method of learning vocabulary. By linking seemingly unrelated words together through humorous and engaging short stories, we have developed a vocabulary learning method. We first provide a story, followed by a vocabulary list, making it not only simple and convenient but also highly entertaining. Theoretically, memorizing stories is easier than memorizing words because stories have a certain developmental thread, which enriches our associations. This is the theoretical foundation for our series of story-based vocabulary learning textbooks. During the process of writing these short stories, we discovered that originally dull words can become lively and endearing, and that monotonous learning can also become vivid and interesting. This reminded us of Columbus's story of conquering the world—breaking an egg and standing it on a table. It turns out that there are no insurmountable challenges in the world; the key lies in whether we can find the right key to overcome them. The idea of "Reading Stories to Memorize Words" is like breaking through a window paper, showing all those who suffer from word memorization a beautiful new world. There are five surprises in this series:
Surprise One: "To see a thousand miles, climb one more story; beyond the tower, there are more towers, and even higher into the night sky. From elementary English vocabulary to TOEFL English vocabulary, and even to the top-tier GRE vocabulary, plus 2 books on phrases, 11 books encompass eight levels of word memorization—from just starting to learn, to mastering, to becoming proficient, and even to free and effortless recall. It's like a series of steps that lead people to the pinnacle of English learning. Regardless of how much vocabulary a learner has, they can always find the right level for their foundation and goals."
Surprise Two: "Performing a grand performance in a screw shell, memorize words within context. Everyone loves to listen to stories, but not everyone loves to memorize words. Combining the joy of storytelling with the task of memorization is another major feature and advantage of this series. The editors take each word and weave it into the story plot, making it an integral part of a joke, an experience, or a scene, linking memory with visual thinking. When you smile after finishing the story, you realize that these words are not (ugly and repulsive) but are instead friends with blood, life, and warmth."
Surprise Three: "Ingeniously arranged vocabulary, a bright turn in the path. All vocabulary in the stories is arranged in the same order as a standard vocabulary list. With such a book, you don’t need any additional vocabulary lists when memorizing words. As you navigate through each scene, it’s like picking wildflowers along the roadside and placing them in a basket. When you return home, you arrange the flowers in a vase, and they naturally form beautiful patterns. These patterns are sketched by the wisdom of the mind and the hands of experience, everything so natural and effortless."
Surprise Four: "Handling the heavy as if light, effortlessly crafted words like pearls. A good story is lively and never lets the reader guess the ending, while a good vocabulary list is rigid, and we always know the next word. The storytellers must ensure that words appear in order while also telling a compelling story. After all, "you can't have your cake and eat it too," yet they managed to perfectly combine the liveliness of the story with the rigidity of the vocabulary list. The 11 books feature gradually increasing vocabulary difficulty and depth, with different story content, but the words are cleverly embedded within them, as if they were naturally part of the text. In short, the process of reading stories to memorize words is like a journey filled with surprises. This reminds us of Columbus's story of conquering the world—breaking an egg and standing it on a table. It turns out that there are no insurmountable challenges in the world; the key lies in whether we can find the right key to overcome them. "Reading Stories to Memorize Words" is just such a key to conquer the challenges of vocabulary."