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Academic vocabulary list

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English Learning Content for Beginners: Academic Vocabulary

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, are you studying for the exam?

Bob: Oh, Alice! Yes, but this “academic vocabulary” is making my brain hurt.

Alice: Tell me about it! I just read “disseminate” and thought it was a type of dessert.

Bob: (chuckles) Mine was “ameliorate.” I kept thinking of a fancy melon.

Alice: A fancy melon? That’s even better! I’m trying to “comprehend” why we need so many big words.

Bob: Me too! I feel like I need a dictionary just to read the dictionary.

Alice: Exactly! And then they ask us to “evaluate” sources. I just want to evaluate my bed right now.

Bob: (laughs) Don’t forget “substantiate.” Is that like a fancy way to say “prove it”?

Alice: Probably! Or maybe it’s for when you’re really, really sure. “I can substantiate that I need a nap.”

Bob: Ha! I’m trying to “synthesize” all this information, but my brain just keeps producing static.

Alice: Mine too! I feel like I’m trying to build a spaceship with building blocks.

Bob: Hey, maybe we can “collaborate” on making flashcards? Two brains are better than one, especially when they’re both confused.

Alice: That’s a brilliant “strategy,” Bob! We can quiz each other.

Bob: Perfect! Maybe then we can finally “articulate” our thoughts without sounding like robots.

Alice: Agreed! Let’s conquer this academic beast! But first, coffee?

Bob: Definitely coffee! My brain needs fuel for this “intellectual endeavor.”

Current Situation

For beginners in English, academic vocabulary can seem like a big challenge. These are words that you often find in school, university, or professional settings, like textbooks, essays, and lectures. They are usually more formal than everyday words. For example, instead of “make better,” you might hear “ameliorate,” or instead of “spread,” you might hear “disseminate.”

Learning academic vocabulary is important because it helps you:

  • Understand what you read and hear in educational contexts.
  • Express your ideas more clearly and professionally.
  • Succeed in your studies and future career.

It’s okay to find these words difficult at first, just like Alice and Bob! The best way to learn them is to see them in context, practice using them, and not be afraid to look them up. Start with a few common ones, and gradually build your vocabulary.

Key Phrases

  • Making my brain hurt: This means something is very difficult to understand or think about.
    • Example: “Solving this math problem is making my brain hurt!”
  • Tell me about it!: This is an informal way to say “I agree with you completely!”
    • Example: “The traffic was terrible!” “Tell me about it! I was stuck for an hour.”
  • Keep thinking of: To repeatedly have a certain idea or image in your mind.
    • Example: “I keep thinking of that funny movie scene.”
  • Comprehend why: To understand the reason for something. “Comprehend” is an academic word for “understand.”
    • Example: “I can’t comprehend why they changed the rules.”
  • Evaluate sources: To carefully judge the quality, importance, or value of information from different places (like books or websites).
    • Example: “For your essay, you need to evaluate sources carefully.”
  • Substantiate that: To provide evidence to prove that something is true. “Substantiate” is an academic word for “prove.”
    • Example: “Can you substantiate that claim with data?”
  • Synthesize information: To combine different pieces of information or ideas to form a new whole or understanding.
    • Example: “Students must synthesize information from various texts for their research.”
  • Collaborate on: To work together with someone to achieve a goal.
    • Example: “Let’s collaborate on this project to finish it faster.”
  • Brilliant strategy: A very clever or excellent plan to achieve something.
    • Example: “Using flashcards to learn new words is a brilliant strategy.”
  • Articulate thoughts: To express your ideas or feelings clearly and effectively in words.
    • Example: “It’s important to articulate your thoughts during a presentation.”
  • Intellectual endeavor: An activity that involves using your brain and thinking deeply, often for academic or complex tasks.
    • Example: “Learning a new language is a challenging intellectual endeavor.”

Grammar Points

1. Present Simple Tense

We use the Present Simple to talk about facts, habits, and general truths.

  • Structure: Subject + Verb (add -s/-es for he/she/it)
  • Example from dialogue: “this academic vocabulary is making my brain hurt.” (Here, ‘is’ is the verb ‘to be’ in present simple)
  • Example: “I study every day.” “She reads a lot.”
  • Example: “My brain needs fuel.”

2. Present Continuous Tense

We use the Present Continuous to talk about actions happening right now, or temporary actions.

  • Structure: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing
  • Example from dialogue: “Are you studying for the exam?”
  • Example from dialogue: “I’m trying to comprehend why we need so many big words.”
  • Example: “I am learning English.” “They are working on a project.”

3. Imperatives

We use imperatives to give commands, instructions, or strong suggestions.

  • Structure: Base form of the verb (no subject needed)
  • Example from dialogue: “Tell me about it!”
  • Example from dialogue: “Don’t forget ‘substantiate’.” (Negative imperative uses “Don’t” + verb)
  • Example: “Listen carefully.” “Open your books.”

4. Modal Verb: “Can” (Ability and Possibility)

We use “can” to express ability (what someone is able to do) or possibility (something that might happen).

  • Structure: Subject + can + Base form of the verb
  • Example from dialogue: “maybe we can collaborate on making flashcards?” (Possibility/Suggestion)
  • Example from dialogue: “I can substantiate that I need a nap.” (Ability/Statement of fact)
  • Example: “I can speak a little English.” “We can meet later.”

Practice Exercises

  1. Fill in the blanks with the correct academic vocabulary word from the box below:

    (evaluate, collaborate, synthesize, articulate, comprehend)

    1. It’s hard to ______ all this information into one summary.
    2. Students need to ______ their ideas clearly in the presentation.
    3. I don’t ______ why the professor gave us so much homework.
    4. Let’s ______ on the group project to finish it faster.
    5. You must ______ your sources to ensure they are reliable.
  2. Choose the best key phrase to complete each sentence:

    (Tell me about it!, Making my brain hurt, Brilliant strategy)

    1. “This puzzle is so difficult, it’s ______!”
    2. “Learning English by watching movies is a ______.”
    3. “I’m so tired today.” “______! I only slept for four hours.”
  3. Rewrite the sentences using the Present Continuous or Present Simple tense:
    1. (I / study / for the test / now). __________________________________.
    2. (She / always / drink / coffee / in the morning). __________________________________.
    3. (They / not / understand / the lesson / currently). __________________________________.
    4. (The sun / rise / in the east). __________________________________.
  4. Change these sentences into commands (imperatives):
    1. (You should listen carefully.) __________________________________.
    2. (We shouldn’t forget our books.) __________________________________.
    3. (You should open the window.) __________________________________.

Answers

    1. synthesize
    2. articulate
    3. comprehend
    4. collaborate
    5. evaluate
    1. making my brain hurt
    2. Brilliant strategy
    3. Tell me about it!
    1. I am studying for the test now.
    2. She always drinks coffee in the morning.
    3. They are not understanding the lesson currently.
    4. The sun rises in the east.
    1. Listen carefully.
    2. Don’t forget your books.
    3. Open the window.

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