For me, I think this helps as long as I take the time to go back and review them. However, if I wait too long before reviewing them, I forget the context and it doesn't help as much.

Blimey Ali, I really should try and remember the words in context! Thanks for your comment.

Thanks Victoria. I think your approach sounds like Steve Kaufmann's (founder of Lingq). He is a successful polyglot.

I tried to do lists of new words also. But I can't memorize them if I don't use it in my speech at least few times.

So now I do like this: if I met a word I don't know 1 time I just skip it, If I meet it once again I pay atention but again skip, if the third time I watch the translation and try to remember in context.

It can be helpful so long as you can link the words to their uses in your mind.