Dear Supercalafragelisticexpialadocious, I apologize for being totally blog-challenged & unable to figure out how to post responses on your page. Until I am able to figure this out writing on my own groups page will have to suffice...so here is my response to Jabberwocky...
Regarding the idea of learning a language, I agree with what Professor Knupsky calls the 'role of immersion.' The best way to learn a new language or enhance your vocabulary on a first language is to fully commit yourself to that language. This can mean attempting to use a new word throughout the day in different sentences or situations or on a bigger scale of having the opportunity to fully engulf yourself in a culture where you are surrounded by the language you are trying to learn. By placing yourself in such a situation you can then use the cues from your surrounding environment to help reinforce your new language.
While learning a second language in a classroom setting is a good start we know that the things that stick with us the best are the things that we can first hand experience, such as being in a foreign country when you are trying to learn the native language. Vocabulary lists are a place to start but memorizing definitions as opposed to actually experiencing them will leave you with two very different degrees of a learning experience.