Teaching vocabulary
Teaching Vocabulary
Categories of Words
Active Words: Frequently used words that should be practiced systematically.
Passive Words: Rarely used words not to be practiced in depth; can be briefly explained to encourage context usage or dictionary reference.
Important Tips
Focus on vocabulary closely related to students' environment and experiences.
Introduce new vocabulary in simple, familiar structures to manage complexity.
Techniques of Teaching Vocabulary
Visual Aids: Use realia, gestures, facial expressions, pictures, stick figures, and handmade drawings.
Contextualization: Present straightforward statements that provide context for vocabulary.
Definitions: Explain words using synonyms, antonyms, and paraphrasing, supplemented by showing objects or models.
Mind maps/Semantic maps/Spider diagrams: Utilize these tools for visual organization of vocabulary.
Dictionary Usage: Encourage students to consult dictionaries for deeper understanding.
Collocation: Teach combinations of words, e.g., verb + noun (e.g., "break a code").
Word Forms
Homophones: Same pronunciation, different meanings (e.g., two/too, pair/pear).
Idioms: Phrases with meanings not deducible from individual words.
Steps in Teaching Vocabulary
Presentation: Create a link to the new word (e.g., ask, "What is this? What do we need it for?").
Introduce the Word: Use the word in a model sentence.
Isolate the Word: Focus on pronunciation.
Repetition: Students repeat the word after the teacher.
Model Sentence Repetition: Teacher uses and students repeat the model sentence.
Comprehension Check
Conducted through question/answer sessions, ensuring understanding of the new vocabulary.
Techniques for Checking Understanding: Concept questions, negative checking, extensions, and the use of VAS (Visual Aids).
Practice Stage
Create situations or provide cues for students to respond.
Exploitation/Production: Copying and writing activities.
At the end, have students write model sentences in their copybooks.