How To Teach How To Teach VocabularyVocabulary

Best PracticesWhat does effective, comprehensive vocabulary

instruction look like?

It has identified four key components:1. Rich and varied language experiences2. Direct teaching of individual words3. Independent word-learning strategies4. Fostering word consciousness

Vocabulary PresentationVocabulary Presentation

Short Texts

Books Dictionaries Corpora

Words In Context IncreaseWords In Context Increase

The chances of learners The chances of learners appreciating appreciating

Their typical environnmentsTheir typical environnments Their associated collocations Their associated collocations Grammatical structures Grammatical structures

Texts And Their Lexical ChainsTexts And Their Lexical Chains A snake chain: snake, boa, python, A snake chain: snake, boa, python,

reptilereptile A hunting chain: hunt, on the loose, A hunting chain: hunt, on the loose,

snakecatcher, dogs, found, discoveredsnakecatcher, dogs, found, discovered A danger chain: harmless, dangerous, A danger chain: harmless, dangerous,

poisonous, carriers, bacteria, salmonella poisonous, carriers, bacteria, salmonella

Lexical Detective WorkLexical Detective Work

CollocationsCollocationsSynonymsSynonymsAntonymsAntonymsHyponymsHyponyms

How Can Lexical Features Be How Can Lexical Features Be Exploited?Exploited?

Ask learners:Ask learners:

-to skim the text-to skim the text

-to attempt a rough summary of its gist-to attempt a rough summary of its gist

-to find long noun phrases or idioms-to find long noun phrases or idioms

-to consult dictionaries-to consult dictionaries

-to find definitions, synonyms in the text-to find definitions, synonyms in the text

-to study and analyse targeted items-to study and analyse targeted items

-to write their own texts with new items-to write their own texts with new items

Lexical Features of Spoken Lexical Features of Spoken LanguageLanguage

Discourse MarkersDiscourse Markers

(indicate a change of (indicate a change of the talk)the talk)

Well, anyway, Well, anyway,

I meanI mean

TagsTags

(qualify what has (qualify what has been said) been said)

I suppose, I suppose, actually, really, actually, really, you know, yeahyou know, yeah

Web Of WordsWeb Of Words

The function of The function of participlesparticiples

(softened, opened, refolded)(softened, opened, refolded)

The abstract nounsThe abstract nouns(womanliness-lipstick, powder; (womanliness-lipstick, powder;

anguish-opened, read, anguish-opened, read, refolded)refolded)

The sensations in the The sensations in the texttext

(the smell of, the look of, the (the smell of, the look of, the sound of)sound of)

HANDBAG HANDBAG

CONTAINS…CONTAINS…

(LETTERS, LIPSTICK,(LETTERS, LIPSTICK,

POWDER)POWDER)

Books And ReadersBooks And Readers“ “ I like reading one story because, I like reading one story because,

after the first day, I don’t have after the first day, I don’t have

to use the dictionary as much, so to use the dictionary as much, so

it makes reading more it makes reading more

enjoyable”enjoyable”

The Number of Words Used at Each The Number of Words Used at Each Level by Graded ReadersLevel by Graded Readers

Free ReadingFree Readingincreases the chances of repeated increases the chances of repeated

encounters with wordsencounters with words

Narrow ReadingNarrow Reading is reading about the same topic over the course of is reading about the same topic over the course of

a number of textsa number of texts

The Role of Dictionaries in The Role of Dictionaries in Vocabulary LearningVocabulary Learning

When learners are left to study vocabulary on their own, two common ways are available to them: to use the dictionary and to guess.

Types of DictionaryTypes of Dictionary Pronunciation dictionariesPronunciation dictionaries Bilingual and monolingualBilingual and monolingual Learner dictionariesLearner dictionaries Collocation dictionariesCollocation dictionaries On-line dictionariesOn-line dictionaries According to meaning categories According to meaning categories

(thesaurus)(thesaurus) Alphabetical dictionariesAlphabetical dictionaries

Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary and Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary and the Longman Learner Activator the Longman Learner Activator

Detailed definitions help students choose the correct Detailed definitions help students choose the correct word and natural, corpus-based examples show words in word and natural, corpus-based examples show words in typical usage typical usage

Improved access system makes it easy to find the word Improved access system makes it easy to find the word you need you need

All the collocations and phrases you need to write All the collocations and phrases you need to write correctly correctly

Index at the back of the book for easy cross-referencing Index at the back of the book for easy cross-referencing Clear key words help to find alternatives Clear key words help to find alternatives Concepts are grouped Concepts are grouped Simple definitions an examples help to find the right wordSimple definitions an examples help to find the right word

Shed (v)Shed (v)1. 1. get rid ofget rid of to get rid of something that you no longer need or want: The to get rid of something that you no longer need or want: The company is planning to shed about a quarter of its workforce.company is planning to shed about a quarter of its workforce.

2. 2. shed lightshed light

a) to make something easier to understand, by providing new or better a) to make something easier to understand, by providing new or better informationinformation

Investigators hope to shed light on what started the fire.Investigators hope to shed light on what started the fire.

b) if something sheds light, it lights the area around it: The lamp shed a b) if something sheds light, it lights the area around it: The lamp shed a harsh yellow light.harsh yellow light.

3.3. drop/fall drop/fall to drop something or allow it to fall: He strode across the to drop something or allow it to fall: He strode across the bathroom, shedding wet clothes as he went.bathroom, shedding wet clothes as he went.

4. 4. shed bloodshed blood to kill or injure people, especially during a war or a fight: to kill or injure people, especially during a war or a fight: Too much blood has already been shed in this conflict.Too much blood has already been shed in this conflict.

5. 5. shed tearsshed tears especially literary to cry: She had not shed a single tear especially literary to cry: She had not shed a single tear during the funeral.during the funeral.

66. water. water if something sheds water, the water flows off its surface, instead if something sheds water, the water flows off its surface, instead of sinking into itof sinking into it

A Corpus (plural corpora)A Corpus (plural corpora)

- a collection of - a collection of texts that has been texts that has been assembled for the assembled for the

purposes of purposes of language study language study

CorporaCorpora Are the latest addition to the resources Are the latest addition to the resources

available for vocabulary input available for vocabulary input

Are particularly useful for providing Are particularly useful for providing attested examples of language in use, attested examples of language in use, as well as frequency and collocation as well as frequency and collocation informationinformation

Vocabulary LearningVocabulary Learning

A question A question of finding of finding wordswords

Active Active mediation of mediation of the teacherthe teacher

Good LuckGood Luck