Asking questions can help you to expand your vocabulary quickly because it forces you to address strange words. When reading alone, a dictionary can be used to look up words you don't recognize. When in class or speaking with a family member or friend, asking what a word means will help you better understand the conversation. If a friend doesn't know or can't explain the meaning of a word he used, you can look up the meaning together.
If you've always been curious about multiple book genres but have been intimidated by the language use, diversifying your reading can give you an excuse to delve into a new subject while expanding your vocabulary. One you begin reading a new genre of book, such as biography, science, nature-related, romance or poetry, you'll find a plethora of new and interesting words to look up and learn. Visiting the public library can give you access to many types of books you may never have thought to read before.
While reading and learning about new words can help expand your knowledge of the English language, you have not truly increased your vocabulary until you are able to use new words correctly through speaking and writing. Focusing on several words relating to how you describe yourself, topics you like or things you do and using each word in a sentence can help you play with your vocabulary and make it your own. Of course, some larger words may not sound like anything you would use in normal conversation.
Crossword puzzles can be found online and in the newspaper, and are fun while helping to increase your vocabulary. These puzzles work by giving you a definition and several clues that help you determine what word is being asked for. They train your mind to think all the way through your vocabulary. Word searches can help you learn how to spell and recognize new words. You can also get creative and play a rhyming game, coming up with a poem that uses a new word and rhymes it with words you know.