Transcript Vocabulary, the Lost Art

The Lost Art
by Myrtis Mixon
Words are Lost
Why do I say that words are lost?
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With the emphasis on communicative
teaching, we sometimes forget “words”
Two Ways to Learn Vocabulary
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Incidental Learning
Explicit teaching
What do you use to teach vocabulary?
Myths about vocabulary teaching
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In learning a language, vocabulary is not as
important as grammar
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Using word lists to learn 2nd language
vocabulary is unproductive (But use variety)
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The use of translations to learn new
vocabulary should be discouraged
Myths
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Guessing words from context is an excellent strategy
for learning 2nd language vocabulary
(Incidental vocabulary learning through reading
explains only a small % of word knowledge)
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The best dictionary for 2nd language learners is a
monolingual dictionary
(Teachers MUST STOP pushing learners toward
using monolingual dictionaries)
(Keith Folse)
Handout
Current Research
Use frequency lists.
 2000 high-frequency words: 80% of words
(GSL) General Service List http://jbauman.com/gls.html
Use academic word list:
http://www.vux.ac.nz/LALS/DIV1/AWL
Teach Explicitly
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Vocabulary is the single, strongest predictor of
academic success.
Explicit Steps:
 Pronounce, explain, give examples, elaborate
review/assess student learning
 Engage learners: activities with evidence-checks:
 Word charts, sentence starters, oral sharing.
http://www.calstat.org/learningCenter/pdfs/narrowingla
nguageGap.pdf
Kinsella (2005)
Actively Engage
Use a variety of methods
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Two 10 minute periods/day of explicit vocabulary
instruction can yield 95% improvement in reading
comprehension.
1) Spell and say, word maps, word associations, word
gestures;
2) Word analysis: semantic mapping, word
classification & manipulation, cloze activities, word
consciousness activities
Ventriglia (2005)
Explicit Teaching
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Explicitly teach and test vocabulary
Teach students how to keep vocabulary notebooks
Teach phrasal verbs (take off/take over)
Collocations or word groupings
(squander+money/commit+crime)
Use exercises that require multiple retrievals of words
Use repetition & multiple exposures (retrievals)
Keith Folse (2004)
Incidental Learning
For incidental learning:
 Increase the reading assignments
 Use rich oral language and extensive reading;
reading has the greatest impact on students’
vocabulary knowledge
Vocabulary Notebook
Teach learners to use a neat and spacious
vocabulary notebook!!
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Include target word, translation, synonym or
antonym or key connecting word, and a brief
example; not a whole sentence, but a good
collocation
Repetition/Retrieval
Repetition is not the same as retrieval
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When learners hear or see a new word, they
need an activity that forces them to retrieve the
meaning (multiple times ideally)
Rules
For Vocabulary Learning
Rules
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Work on vocabulary in every lesson
Once you teach vocabulary, you must test
vocabulary
Vocabulary practice in some way… the
number of forced retrievals makes the
difference
Notebook Example
Word
Synonym/Explanation
Example/Sentence/Image
analyse, v.
To separate into parts so as to
understand; to examine
methodically.
I analysed the situation and
decided to quit.
Handout
End of the Lost Art
It Has Been Found
Myrtis Mixon
Contact Information
[email protected]