Vocabulary building is crucial for both reading comprehension and effective writing.

As
an ESL student, the mission of enhancing my vocabulary can be a rewarding yet challenging
attempt. The biggest obstacle that disturbs me is the limited exposure, which means the lack
of vocabulary.

As a freshman who is majoring in English Instruction, there is a lot of Western literature

and English articles need to read and understand to build a solid foundation. While studying
the material, an annoying problem that keeps bothering me is the lack of vocabulary. There
are many words that I do not understand while reading. The feeling of not being able to read
the words smoothly makes me frustrated because I must keep looking up the meaning of
words that I do not know. The reason I find myself limited in exposure is that I used to only
focus on the high school’s academic performance. Fortunately, there are many ways to
overcome this tricky problem. First, developing reading habits by exploring different genres,
newspapers, magazines, and online articles rather than focusing on specific subjects. Various
topics help me know the world and vocabulary better. Second, there are many courses open
for students to advance their levels. Take my experience for example, I am attending a course
named “English Vocabulary and Etymology” this semester. It aims to help ESL students
enlarge their knowledge of words and develop the vocabulary power that students acquire
both in school and the workplace. Last, people around me are fluent and proficient in English;
hence, it becomes a motivation for me to push myself to pursue much more knowledge that is
required. Setting milestones to keep moving is a great way to solve the lack of vocabulary
problem.

Building a strong vocabulary is an essential skill for me aiming to excel in my academic

performance and future career. While obstacles such as limited exposure may pose
challenges, dedication can help me overcome all the obstacles. The solid foundation of
knowing enough vocabulary is a source of power that can make me a better reader, learner,
and thinker.