ESP for Lawyers¿How to teach vocabulary

through Reading and Writing?

Samantha Castillo & Elizabeth Fuentes

¿What is Legal English?

LEGAL ENGLISH: It is the style of English used by lawyers and other legal professionals in the course of their work. It is informally referred to as Lawspeak or Legalese.(Wikipedia) Lawyers have their own vocabulary.

We face 2 questions:Why is so important to learn vocabulary?&How can we teach it through Reading and Writing?

Learning Vocabulary: Why?

It is a very important part of learning a language. The more words you know, the more you will be able to understand what you hear and read; and the better you will be able to say what you want to when speaking or writing. (Frankfurt, 2011)

Vocabulary learning is an indispensable process for ESL learners to acquire proficiency and competence in target language. Word power facilitates fluent speaking and effective writing. It substantiates both : learners’ acquisition of knowledge and production of knowledge. (Ahmad, 2012)

How can we teach vocabulary? Intentional Learning

Intentional learning is defined as being designed, planned for, or intended by teacher or students. (Yali, 2010)

The intentional learning always focuses on vocabulary itself, and combines with all kinds of conscious vocabulary learning strategies and means of memorizing words. (Yali, 2010)

Intentional vocabulary Learning is based on synonyms, antonyms, word substitution, and multiple choice. By practicing guessing the students can understand the meaning of words gradually. (Ahmad, 2012)

The teacher does all the job, exercises are teacher-centered, and the students are not responsible for their own learning.

Incidental Learning Incidental learning is the process of

learning something without the intention of doing so. It is also learning one thing while intending to learn another (Richards & Schmidt, 2002).

In terms of language acquisition, incidental learning is said to be an effective way of learning vocabulary from context. (Ahmad, 2012)

Incidental Vocabulary Learning motivates learners for extensive reading. It involves learners' ability to guess the meaning of new words from the contextual clues. (Ahmad, 2012)

Teacher helps the students, exercises are student-centered, and the students are responsible for their own learning.

Active Learning What is it?:

Active learning stands in contrast to "standard" modes of instruction. It can be used with Incidental Learning at the same time.

ReadingActive learning exercises such as summary and note checks can help students process what they've read and help them develop the ability to focus on important information. (University of Minnesota)

Writing Active learning exercises can be assigning short in-class writings in which students have to use core vocabulary (Eison, 2014).Another option is to create sentences with the vocabulary in context, or to create a glossary.

Reading Activity Examples Intentional Learning

Reading Activity Examples

Incidental Learning/Active Learning.

Writing Activity Examples

Active Learning/Incidental Learning

Writing Activity Examples

Intentional Learning

To sum up the content:

Incidental Learning: The type of learning, in which, students are going to learn vocabulary without the intention of the teacher. It involves learners' ability to guess the meaning of new words from the contextual clues.

Intentional Learning: The type of learning, in which, there is an intention or a plan to learn vocabulary. It is based on synonyms, antonyms, word substitution, multiple choice. By practicing guessing the students can understand the meaning of words gradually.

Active Learning: The type of learning that stands in contrast to "standard" modes of instruction.It can be used with Incidental Learning.Reading: summaries and note checks. Writing: short in-class writings, sentences with vocabulary in context, and a glossary.

References

Ahmad, Jameel (2012). Intentional vs. Incidental Vocabulary Learning. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.kau.edu.sa/Files/0053226/Researches/65160_36507.pdf. [Last Accessed September 19th, 2014].

Eison,Jim. Using Active Learning Instructional Strategies to Create Excitement and Enhance Learning. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.cte.cornell.edu/documents/presentations/Eisen-Handout.pdf [Last Accessed September 21st, 2014].

Frankfurt International School (2011). How to Learn Vocabulary. [ONLINE] Available at: http://esl.fis.edu/learners/advice/vocab.htm. [Last Accessed September 19th, 2014].

University of Minnesota (). What Is Active Learning?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/active/what/. [Last Accessed September 19th, 2014].

Yali, Guo (2010). L2 Vocabulary Acquisition Through Reading —Incidental Learning and Intentional Learning. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.celea.org.cn/teic/89/10042205.pdf. [Last Accessed September 19th, 2014].