English: Proficiency 1
Voc Zelfstudie - Cambridge ENglish vocabulary in use
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Language learning tips
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te kennen voor semester 1
Language variation (units 97-101)
People & relationships (units 8-15)
Leisure & lifestyle (units 16-24)
te kennen voor semester 2
Work & study (units 1-7)
Travel (units 25-27)
Media (units 47-50)
Health (units 51-54)
Technology (units 55-58
Learning vocabulary
1) assess your stage of knowledge → recategorise words in stage after checking definition
(perhaps didn't know the word fully or another meaning)
2) record the vocabulary ●flashcards (synonym/definition)
●audio → record yourself
●vocab log (excel sheet)
●mind maps
●post its around house
●definition in your own words
●synonyms/antonyms
●example sentence
●collocations
●an image
●register & regional variation
(informal, neutral, BrE, AmE, connotations -/+)
●sentences using this word written by professionals
→ watch out for false friend (e.g. miserable (moody) (En)
misérable (Fr) (lowest of the low)
→ make connections (words & languages) & find
exceptions
3) prioritising ●focus on S1/2 words
●study little and often
●spaced repetition: allow enough time to revisit the words
4) self-test ●regularly test yourself
●test each other
●complete exercise in the course book
●make the mock exam (december Ufora)
5) predict ●try to envisage what you might be asked in the exam
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People and relationships (U8-15)
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[8] Describing people: positive and negative qualities (pg. 22)
| Character and personality
opportunistic using situations or opportunities to gain an advantage for oneself, for
one’s own benefit (often without considering principles or others)
methodical careful and deliberate, done according to a systematic and organised
method
chauvinistic excessively patriotic or biased, showing too much or unreasonable
support for one’s own country, group, or sex
to get carried away to become so excited or involved that control over one’s behaviour or
emotions is lost
obliging willing and eager to help; helpful and accommodating
superficial not showing serious or careful thought or concern; concerned only with
what is obvious or on the surface
insecure not confident, uncertain about one’s own abilities
a perfectionist a person who is not satisfied unless things are done perfectly
tactless not being careful about saying or doing things that could upset or offend
others, inclined to say things that upset or offend people
intuitive based on feelings or instincts rather than conscious reasoning, able to
understand things quickly and naturally
diligent hard-working, careful, thorough and persistent in work or effort
placid calm and not easily upset, excited or angry
a magnetic personality a personality that strongly attracts or draws people’s attention (and
affection)
distrustful not trusting, suspicious of others
shrewd having or showing sharp ‘good’ judgment and practical understanding,
especially in business or politics
supportive providing help, encouragement, or emotional strength
extravagant spending too much money or using more of something than necessary,
exceeding reasonable limits
down-to-earth practical, sensible, and realistic
altruistic showing selfless concern for the well-being of others, putting others’
needs before one’s own
morose gloomy, unhappy, bad-tempered, and unwilling to talk or be sociable
sharp-tongued inclined to speak in a critical, severe, or hurtful way
naive showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; too willing to trust or
believe others easily
,| Positive and negative associations
positive negative
generous, unstinting extravagant, immoderate
resolute, dogged stubborn, obstinate
thrifty, frugal stingy, parsimonious
diligent, industrious work-obsessed, (a) workaholic
idealistic, principled dogmatic, inflexible
shrewd, astute cunning, sly
sober, serious morose, sullen
witty, pithy brusque, terse
tolerant, open-minded unprincipled, unscrupulous
chatty, talkative verbose, garrulous
[9] Describing people: appearance and mannerism (pg. 24)
| Adjectives connected with size, weight and general appearance
slender thin in an attractive or graceful way
scrawny unattractively thin and bony-looking in appearance
lanky tall and thin, often moving awkwardly
gangling/gangly tall and thin with long, thin arms and legs, often moving awkwardly (often
used of men or boys)
obese overweight, very fat in an unhealthy way
stout with a quite large, solid body (used of men and women)
stocky short + body that is wide across the shoulders and chest,
short and broad or solid in build, with a wide body and shoulders
| Aspects of appearance and complexion
bulked up increased in body size, especially by gaining more muscle
lean thin and healthy-looking, with little or no excess fat
wiry thin but strong, with firm muscles and little fat
unkempt untidy, scruffy or messy in appearance (≠ smart, neat) ( ⚠ ‘kempt’ does not
exist)
never a hair out always looking well-dressed, perfectly neat, smart, tidy, and well-groomed
of place
immaculate in perfect condition, smart
swarthy having dark-coloured skin/complexion (and hair)
, sallow having a slightly yellow, unhealthy-looking skin tone
haggard looking tired, worn, unwell or ill, often because of worry, lack of sleep, or
illness
| Facial expression
to grin to give a wide smile, often showing the teeth, sometimes used to express
happiness, amusement, or satisfaction
to pout 1. to pushing lower lips forward to show discontent/annoyance
2. to pushing both lips forward in an intendedly attractive/sexy manner
to grimace to make a twisted facial expression showing pain, disgust, or strong dislike
to scowl to look at someone or something with an angry or disapproving expression; to
frown with the eyebrows and mouth turned downwards
to leer to look at someone in a predatory, suggestive, malicious, unpleasant and
sexually interested way
| Mannerisms and actions
to shrug one’s to lift the shoulders up and down to show that one does not know
shoulders something or cannot answer
to fold one’s arms to bring both arms together across the chest (often showing a defensive,
impatient, or relaxed attitude)
to cross one’s legs to place one leg over the other while sitting
to twitch to make a small, sudden, uncontrolled movement of part of the body,
often caused by nervousness or stress
to bite one’s nails to chew on the nails of one’s fingers, often as a habit or sign of anxiety
to clench one’s fists to close the hands tightly, usually because of anger
to tap/drum one’s to repeatedly strike a surface lightly and quickly with the fingers, often
fingers showing impatience or nervousness
[10] Describing people: personality and character traits (pg. 26)
| Adjectives to describe people’s personality or behaviour
impetuous acting on sudden idea or done quickly and without (careful) thought or
consideration; impulsive in a way that may lead to mistakes [often negative]
impulsive acting suddenly without thinking carefully, but not necessarily in a negative
way; driven by instinct or emotion [often positive]
effusive expressing feelings of pleasure, admiration, or gratitude in an unrestrained or
exaggerated way
excitable easily excited or stirred by events or emotions; quick to show enthusiasm or
nervous energy
pushy trying too hard to get what one wants, often in a forceful or selfish way
[informal, disapproving]
Voc Zelfstudie - Cambridge ENglish vocabulary in use
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Language learning tips
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
te kennen voor semester 1
Language variation (units 97-101)
People & relationships (units 8-15)
Leisure & lifestyle (units 16-24)
te kennen voor semester 2
Work & study (units 1-7)
Travel (units 25-27)
Media (units 47-50)
Health (units 51-54)
Technology (units 55-58
Learning vocabulary
1) assess your stage of knowledge → recategorise words in stage after checking definition
(perhaps didn't know the word fully or another meaning)
2) record the vocabulary ●flashcards (synonym/definition)
●audio → record yourself
●vocab log (excel sheet)
●mind maps
●post its around house
●definition in your own words
●synonyms/antonyms
●example sentence
●collocations
●an image
●register & regional variation
(informal, neutral, BrE, AmE, connotations -/+)
●sentences using this word written by professionals
→ watch out for false friend (e.g. miserable (moody) (En)
misérable (Fr) (lowest of the low)
→ make connections (words & languages) & find
exceptions
3) prioritising ●focus on S1/2 words
●study little and often
●spaced repetition: allow enough time to revisit the words
4) self-test ●regularly test yourself
●test each other
●complete exercise in the course book
●make the mock exam (december Ufora)
5) predict ●try to envisage what you might be asked in the exam
,---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People and relationships (U8-15)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[8] Describing people: positive and negative qualities (pg. 22)
| Character and personality
opportunistic using situations or opportunities to gain an advantage for oneself, for
one’s own benefit (often without considering principles or others)
methodical careful and deliberate, done according to a systematic and organised
method
chauvinistic excessively patriotic or biased, showing too much or unreasonable
support for one’s own country, group, or sex
to get carried away to become so excited or involved that control over one’s behaviour or
emotions is lost
obliging willing and eager to help; helpful and accommodating
superficial not showing serious or careful thought or concern; concerned only with
what is obvious or on the surface
insecure not confident, uncertain about one’s own abilities
a perfectionist a person who is not satisfied unless things are done perfectly
tactless not being careful about saying or doing things that could upset or offend
others, inclined to say things that upset or offend people
intuitive based on feelings or instincts rather than conscious reasoning, able to
understand things quickly and naturally
diligent hard-working, careful, thorough and persistent in work or effort
placid calm and not easily upset, excited or angry
a magnetic personality a personality that strongly attracts or draws people’s attention (and
affection)
distrustful not trusting, suspicious of others
shrewd having or showing sharp ‘good’ judgment and practical understanding,
especially in business or politics
supportive providing help, encouragement, or emotional strength
extravagant spending too much money or using more of something than necessary,
exceeding reasonable limits
down-to-earth practical, sensible, and realistic
altruistic showing selfless concern for the well-being of others, putting others’
needs before one’s own
morose gloomy, unhappy, bad-tempered, and unwilling to talk or be sociable
sharp-tongued inclined to speak in a critical, severe, or hurtful way
naive showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; too willing to trust or
believe others easily
,| Positive and negative associations
positive negative
generous, unstinting extravagant, immoderate
resolute, dogged stubborn, obstinate
thrifty, frugal stingy, parsimonious
diligent, industrious work-obsessed, (a) workaholic
idealistic, principled dogmatic, inflexible
shrewd, astute cunning, sly
sober, serious morose, sullen
witty, pithy brusque, terse
tolerant, open-minded unprincipled, unscrupulous
chatty, talkative verbose, garrulous
[9] Describing people: appearance and mannerism (pg. 24)
| Adjectives connected with size, weight and general appearance
slender thin in an attractive or graceful way
scrawny unattractively thin and bony-looking in appearance
lanky tall and thin, often moving awkwardly
gangling/gangly tall and thin with long, thin arms and legs, often moving awkwardly (often
used of men or boys)
obese overweight, very fat in an unhealthy way
stout with a quite large, solid body (used of men and women)
stocky short + body that is wide across the shoulders and chest,
short and broad or solid in build, with a wide body and shoulders
| Aspects of appearance and complexion
bulked up increased in body size, especially by gaining more muscle
lean thin and healthy-looking, with little or no excess fat
wiry thin but strong, with firm muscles and little fat
unkempt untidy, scruffy or messy in appearance (≠ smart, neat) ( ⚠ ‘kempt’ does not
exist)
never a hair out always looking well-dressed, perfectly neat, smart, tidy, and well-groomed
of place
immaculate in perfect condition, smart
swarthy having dark-coloured skin/complexion (and hair)
, sallow having a slightly yellow, unhealthy-looking skin tone
haggard looking tired, worn, unwell or ill, often because of worry, lack of sleep, or
illness
| Facial expression
to grin to give a wide smile, often showing the teeth, sometimes used to express
happiness, amusement, or satisfaction
to pout 1. to pushing lower lips forward to show discontent/annoyance
2. to pushing both lips forward in an intendedly attractive/sexy manner
to grimace to make a twisted facial expression showing pain, disgust, or strong dislike
to scowl to look at someone or something with an angry or disapproving expression; to
frown with the eyebrows and mouth turned downwards
to leer to look at someone in a predatory, suggestive, malicious, unpleasant and
sexually interested way
| Mannerisms and actions
to shrug one’s to lift the shoulders up and down to show that one does not know
shoulders something or cannot answer
to fold one’s arms to bring both arms together across the chest (often showing a defensive,
impatient, or relaxed attitude)
to cross one’s legs to place one leg over the other while sitting
to twitch to make a small, sudden, uncontrolled movement of part of the body,
often caused by nervousness or stress
to bite one’s nails to chew on the nails of one’s fingers, often as a habit or sign of anxiety
to clench one’s fists to close the hands tightly, usually because of anger
to tap/drum one’s to repeatedly strike a surface lightly and quickly with the fingers, often
fingers showing impatience or nervousness
[10] Describing people: personality and character traits (pg. 26)
| Adjectives to describe people’s personality or behaviour
impetuous acting on sudden idea or done quickly and without (careful) thought or
consideration; impulsive in a way that may lead to mistakes [often negative]
impulsive acting suddenly without thinking carefully, but not necessarily in a negative
way; driven by instinct or emotion [often positive]
effusive expressing feelings of pleasure, admiration, or gratitude in an unrestrained or
exaggerated way
excitable easily excited or stirred by events or emotions; quick to show enthusiasm or
nervous energy
pushy trying too hard to get what one wants, often in a forceful or selfish way
[informal, disapproving]
