Teaching Vocabulary[1]

How can I teach vocabulary in How can I teach vocabulary in the English Classroom?the English Classroom?

Teaching vocabularyTeaching vocabulary

Goal:Goal: To provide some To provide some ideas to the the English ideas to the the English Language Teachers Language Teachers regarding different regarding different ways of teaching ways of teaching vocabulary in the vocabulary in the classroom.classroom.

What is vocabulary?What is vocabulary? Vocabulary is all the Vocabulary is all the words we teach the words we teach the students to create new students to create new language.language.

There are two ways of presenting There are two ways of presenting vocabularyvocabulary

Whithin a context.Whithin a context. The teacher shows the The teacher shows the

students a text which students a text which contains the new words to contains the new words to teach. (The words might be teach. (The words might be transparent or the teacher transparent or the teacher can draw or use pictures to can draw or use pictures to point to them as he/she point to them as he/she reads).reads).

Example:Example: This is Fred. He has short This is Fred. He has short

black hair, strong arms and black hair, strong arms and big hands.big hands.

While the teacher reads the While the teacher reads the text he points to every body text he points to every body part the text mentions in part the text mentions in order to convey meaning.order to convey meaning.

In isolationIn isolation

The teacher presents a The teacher presents a picture or a series of picture or a series of pictures showing pictures showing vocabulary he will use vocabulary he will use before introducing the before introducing the topic.topic.

Example: Example:

The teacher shows a The teacher shows a picture to the students picture to the students and he points to every and he points to every body part he wants the body part he wants the students to memorize.students to memorize.

arm

hand

neck

leg

head

These are some other examples of These are some other examples of teaching vocabularyteaching vocabulary

Realia.Realia. One way of One way of teaching teaching vocabulalry is by vocabulalry is by taking real objects taking real objects to the classroom or to the classroom or using the ones the using the ones the teacher has in it. teacher has in it. Example: a chair, a Example: a chair, a board, a pen, a board, a pen, a ball, etc.ball, etc.

These are some other examples of These are some other examples of teaching vocabulary*teaching vocabulary*11

Pictures. Pictures. Pictures are Pictures are usually a big help for usually a big help for teachers anytime you teachers anytime you can not take big can not take big objects or things to the objects or things to the classroom. classroom.

Pictures can be board Pictures can be board drawings, wall pictures, drawings, wall pictures, charts flashcards etc.charts flashcards etc.


Mime, action and Mime, action and gesture.gesture. It is often It is often to explain the to explain the meaning of words meaning of words and grammar either and grammar either through the use of through the use of realia or pictures.realia or pictures.

Actions like Actions like running, walking or running, walking or smoking are easier smoking are easier to explain by acting to explain by acting the words.the words.


Contrast. Contrast. It is often to explain the meaning of It is often to explain the meaning of words by showing an opposite word. Example:words by showing an opposite word. Example:

Fat thin

tall short

slowfast


Enumeration: Enumeration: Words can be explainedWords can be explained by by enumerating or listing various items. Example:enumerating or listing various items. Example:

Vegetables: broccolli, tomato, calabash, broccolli, tomato, calabash, cucumbercucumber

ClothesClothes:: Shoes, jacket, jeans. Shoes, jacket, jeans.


Explanantion: Explaining the meaning of Explanantion: Explaining the meaning of vocabulary items can be very difficult, especially vocabulary items can be very difficult, especially at the beginners or elementary levels.at the beginners or elementary levels.

1. Jeremy Harmer. The Practice of English Language Teaching. 1. Jeremy Harmer. The Practice of English Language Teaching.

LongmanLongman

What should I teach anytime I What should I teach anytime I introduce a new word?introduce a new word?

Anytime you introduce a new word to the Anytime you introduce a new word to the students make sure you are teaching the students make sure you are teaching the followingfollowing

The meaningThe meaning The sound The sound The written wordThe written word..

Teaching meaning, sound and Teaching meaning, sound and the written word.the written word.

When you teach the word When you teach the word “chair”“chair” it is easier for it is easier for the students if you the students if you pronounce the word to pronounce the word to them and show them at them and show them at the same time the object the same time the object or a picture of it so that or a picture of it so that the students can get the the students can get the meaning immediately.meaning immediately.

Then you can say you are Then you can say you are teaching teaching meaningmeaning and and soundsound..

If you write the word If you write the word under the picture or at under the picture or at the back of it then you the back of it then you will provide the will provide the studentents the written studentents the written form of the word.form of the word.

chairchair

Comments or doubts about Comments or doubts about this presentation.this presentation.

Please contact. Please contact.

María del Consuelo Escamilla María del Consuelo Escamilla ValderramaValderrama

E-Mail. E-Mail. [email protected]@yahoo.com.mx

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Teaching Vocabulary[1]