![]() Then, if we change economic to economics, we get a similar word but which is a different part of speech that carries its own definitions and connotations. This is all in addition to knowing how to pronounce and spell the word. For learners to know the word economic, they must recognize its part of speech, identify its various definitions, acknowledge appropriate synonyms and collocations, and understand that connotations across contexts may vary. For example, economic is an adjective with multiple definitions and connotations in its use. There are a number of derivations of the word economic, including different forms, meanings, and uses. In addition, each word is part of a larger family of words that derive from a root word of a similar meaning.Ĭonsider the word economic. Each word has many parts that help learners understand it. We now know that acquiring a new vocabulary word involves much more. In this month’s Teacher’s Corner, we will discuss the teaching and learning strategies that best support vocabulary learning and examine how we can adapt our existing lessons to incorporate vocabulary.įor many years, vocabulary learning had a singular focus: a word’s definition. Given what we know about vocabulary, how do we teach it in a way that supports language acquisition and all language skills? Such findings reinforce the fundamental role that vocabulary teaching and learning play in the English classroom. In fact, research linking reading comprehension to vocabulary knowledge has shown that a reader must know 98% of the words in a text to process and comprehend the text independently (Hu and Nation, 2000). Regardless, we must remember that vocabulary is at the center of language teaching and learning. Since teachers are tasked with teaching vocabulary in addition to the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar, vocabulary ends up getting a small amount of attention in the classroom. They do this work all while studying the other skills in a language. From such vocabulary sets, students make flash cards, list words, practice spelling, and memorize definitions in an attempt to acquire new language. Teachers may also pull vocabulary words from readings and listening materials that they see as necessary to classroom success. To create these sets of vocabulary words, teachers may use or draw from existing word lists, such as the Academic Word List and General Service List, or from content word lists presented in textbooks and materials, such as food words and neighborhood words. If you want to read more about vocabulary in the classroom, my new book ‘ Closing the Vocabulary Gap‘ is available at Amazon HERE and Routledge HERE.In any English class around the world, you’ll find learners studying new sets of vocabulary words related to a unit of study or topic of discussion. From creating word-clouds based on word frequency, to then unpicking key words and connecting them together, this website has lots of interesting applications for vocabulary learning.ĭo share any of your free favourites in the comments section. This website is another very helpful tool that can visualise and ‘sift’ passages of text in helpful ways. ![]() The premise of ‘free rice’ sees correct quiz answers activity the World Food Programme donate grains of rice to help end hunger. This unique website is a trusty activity for form time or for some vocabulary-related quizzing. With a quick search, you can gain accessible word histories (alongside some very interesting articles). This website freely does what it says on the tin: creating interesting graphic visuals for your word choices. My favourite aspect of the website is the lists facility, which has lots of brilliant applications for teachers to use. ![]() ![]() This bumper website has lots of uses, from a dictionary and countless vocabulary questions. This website has a simple premise: punch in a noun and you get countless descriptive words, with a helpful sort for ‘frequency’ and for ‘uniqueness’. Here are six of my favourite free vocabulary websites that I think are useful for teachers and students alike: The web is full of websites on vocabulary: good, bad and ugly. ![]()
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