Here’s an example of collocations for a common and important word in English: money
These are fairly set pairs of words - the trick is to find out which verbs and adjectives are used with which nouns.
Money - with verbs
spend money
save money
make money
earn money
lose money
exchange money
put money in the bank
deposit money in the bank
take money out of the bank
withdraw money from the bank
Money - with adjectives
fake money
extra money
Add to my list with your own!
Try some collocation quizes (some are very hard!)
Tip #3: Create sample sentences!
Your goal, as a language learner, is to develop the ability to communicate in a wide variety of situations. A great way to practice this is to write sample sentences for each of the new words you learn. You should try to use the new word in as many different situations and locations in the sentence as possible. Once you run out of sentences, try Googling the word to find other samples in English language websites. Here are some examples of sample sentences.
New Word: wireless
1) The wireless network is broken.
2) Our office is wireless.
3) I need a product that provides very fast wireless connectivity.
And a Google search reveals lots more sample sentences.
Tip #2: Learn relevant things!
When you are learning English, it is much easier to remember language that is related to your job, life, interests, etc. And, because these things are related to you, they will be far more useful. So, don’t waste time trying to learn words that you will never use, or discussing things that don’t interest you. Instead, focus on what you need or like. You will have far better results.
Here are some suggestions for learning activities that will be highly relevant:
1) See if you can translate your resume into English.
2) Keep a diary in English, and use it to describe your life. You will find you will need to use a dictionary to learn new words, and because these words are related to your life you will remember them better.
3) Regularly read an English language website or blog about one of your hobbies. Because it interests you, you will have greater motivation and better retention of new vocabulary.
If you have any other strategies for relevant learning, I’d love to hear them in the comments section!
