This thesis reviews the most effective and suitable methods for learning English vocabulary in Swedish upper secondary schools, with particular focus on the different advantages and disadvantages of direct learning compared to learning from context methods. The results are mainly based on current research in the fields of linguistics and the psychology of language acquisition, complemented by a questionnaire distributed to upper secondary school English teachers. The findings include support for the use of extensive reading, watching TV shows and movies subtitled in English and making use of word cards during class.