Welcome to Vocabulary Year 3 of American English Lessons with Maestro Sersea. In this lesson we will study American English vocabulary compliments of the VOA Wordbook, a dictionary of over 1,500 highly-used words.  Please focus and do your best so that you can learn and improve your vocabulary, which will help your comprehension and communication skills. Don’t forget to use the comments section below to share your thoughts and what you’ve learned today.

Part 1 Directions:  Listen to the audio and read along the vocabulary words and definitions 2-3 times.  If needed, use the translation feature to translate the vocabulary words and definitions in your primary language.

• understand – to know what is meant; to have knowledge of
• unite – to join together
• universe – all of space, including planets and stars
• university – a place of education that usually includes several colleges and research organizations
• unless – except if it happens; on condition that (“I will not go, unless the rain stops.”)
• until – up to a time; before
• up – to, in or at a higher position or value
• urge – to advise strongly; to make a great effort to get someone to do something
• urgent – needing an immediate decision or action
• us – the form of the word “we” used after a preposition (“He said he would write to us.”) or used as an object of a verb (“They saw us yesterday.”)
• use – to employ for a purpose; to put into action
• usual – as is normal or common; as is most often done, seen or heard

V

• valley – a long area of land between higher areas of land
• value – the quality of being useful, important or desired; the amount of money that could be received if something is sold
• vegetable – a plant grown for food
• vehicle – anything on or in which a person or thing can travel or be transported, especially anything on wheels; a car or truck
• version – the form of something with different details than earlier or later forms
• very – extremely (“He was very late.”)
• veto – to reject or refuse to approve
• vicious – bad; dangerous; showing harm or hate
• victim – someone or something that is injured, killed or made to suffer; someone who is tricked
• victory – a success in a fight or competition
• village – a very small town
• violate – to fail to obey or honor; to break (an agreement)
• violence – the use of force to cause injury, death or damage
• visit – to go to or come to a place for a short time for friendly or business reasons
• voice –the sound made by creatures, especially humans, for speaking
• volcano – a hill or mountain around a hole in the earth’s surface that can explode, sending hot, melted rock and ash into the air

Part 2 Directions:  Take out your notebook or a sheet of paper and a pen.  Watch the video below to take the vocabulary test for this lesson and check your level of understanding of this vocabulary lesson.

Part 3 Directions: Now that you’ve completed this vocabulary lesson, use the comments section below to share your thoughts about what you’ve learned.