politics = many blood sucking insects.
You can Rig a sail, you can Rig an election, you can even drive a Rig, but you can’t Rigatoni...
I find the best way to learn new words is to use them ... then after a while I start wonderin’ what they mean and I look ‘em up!
ways to easily memorize foreign vocabulary:
Learn words by frequency of use: http://www.amazon.com/Word-Hoard-Introduction-English-Vocabulary-Language/dp/0300035063
Learn vocab as grouped by themes: http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-German-Wordpack-Valerie-Grundy/dp/0198603363
Flashcards are a must!!!
As for the rest of the article:
Words can be grouped in so many memorable ways. Words that came to us from German or Chinese. Words that indicate a color. Words that rhyme. Words that start with a kick-ass K-sound. A good rule of thumb is: any excuse for a group. Consider words heard in the kitchen. Words you’re likely to encounter in Times Square. Words associated with computers. Words you need to study the American Revolution. Words found on a French menu.
I think it's crap.
Written English is like a code. We have approximately 44 sounds that, unfortunately, must be represented by only 26 letters. And, as the author did note, we have also accepted words into English from many foreign languages.
Nonetheless. Start with the simple sounds and progress to the more complex. The kids'll learn it. "f" comes first; "ph" comes next; and "gh" comes last.
Some people say that English isn't phonetic. They're wrong. It's just phonetically complex; and though a trip to the laboratory may be fun and even edifying for young-skulls-full-of-mush, it isn't necessary to learn "vocabulary" words.