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Can an ape help a child learn vocabulary?

Mirella WyraFlinders University

April 2008

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VOCABULARY

Vocabulary learning and teaching The keyword method = mnemonic

method – two-stage process (keyword, interaction)– the standard keyword method (Atkinson,

1975)

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Example:stage 1- keyword

target word apio meaning celery keyword ape

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Examplestage 2 – interaction/picturestandard

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Examplestage 2 – interaction/picture3 conditions

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The Keyword Method Example:

stage 1- keywordtarget word apiomeaning celerykeyword ape

--------------------------------------------------------- stage 2 – interactive picture

(3 conditions)

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Quality of mental imagery,

Vivid vs not vivid images

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Retrieval modelRetrieval -- encoding; context; inferences;

organisationRetrieval and imageScanning/ inspection recognition selection/elimination interpretation

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DE

FIN

ITIO

N

IMAGE OF

DEFINITION

IMAGE OF

INTERACTION

IMAGE OF KW

KW

1F 2F 3F 4F 5F

5B 4B3B 2B

1B

FORWARD PATH1F – scanning FW for KW, generating and/or searching, selecting 2F – searching for pictorial image/s of KW3F – searching for interaction (as per encoding and retrieval training conditions), generating and/or searching, selecting 4F – selecting the pictorial image of definition from the (as per encoding and retrieval training conditions)5F – interpretation of image to recall the definition

BACKWARD PATH1B – searching for pictorial image of definition, generating and/or searching, selecting2B – searching for image of interaction (as per encoding and retrieval training conditions)3B – inspecting and selecting the pictorial image of kw (as per encoding and retrieval training conditions)4B – interpretation of the image of kw to recall the image of the spelling of KW5B – searching for or generating, selecting the foreign word

FO

RE

IGN

WO

RD

APIOCELERY

APE

RETRIEVAL MODEL

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Immediate

recall

Recall

Time 2 (3)

Recall Time 3

(7)

Recall

Time 4 (10)

Control 7.8 5.3 5.7 5.3

Keyword 16.6 12.2 13.0 13.5

Lawson & Hogben (1996) study

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Test 5

M SD

Forward Recall

Standard group5.54 3.43

Retrieval group7.92 3.64

Backward Recall

Standard group2.11 2.03

Retrieval group4.39 2.43

Wyra, Lawson & Hungi (2007)

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Implementation into L2 classroom

Implementation is easy: Introduce the 2 steps for encoding Practice on 4-6 words Introduce FWD retrieval practice - on these words discuss 3

conditions and why they are helpful Introduce BWD retrieval practice - on these words discuss 3

conditions and why they are helpful

Types of activities: This strategy can be used by individual students Whole class, group

activity.

Students engaged in the following:Imaging; selecting; eliminating; analysing; interpreting;

judging/evaluating; monitoring; making associations etc.

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1.Find a keyword (concrete meaning noun is best)2.Make an interactive picture with the meaning and the keyword (two images only, funny/unusual, meaning bigger than keyword)*Don’t forget to look at the Spanish/Japanese word – this is the word that needs to be remembered.

ashi - あし foot kaeru - かえる

frog neko - ねこ cat hon - ほん book buta - ぶた pig

pájaro – birdtimbre – bell pandilla - a gang cinturón – belt bombero – fireman

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QUESTIONS

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