Teach English in Wukou Zhen - Yueyang Shi

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary (2019); vocabulary is defined as all the words a person knows and uses. Thus, vocabulary is an essential part of learning a language. Vocabulary is considered the basis for the development of all the other language skills. However, it cannot exist in a vacuum. Hence the other areas of the English language should not be neglected. A limited vocabulary is dangerous because it prevents the speaker from expressing their thoughts and ideas clearly. Based on a person’s age or English level, their vocabulary is expected to be at a certain stage, for effective communication. There is a strong correlation between vocabulary and reading comprehension and achievement. Vocabulary aids with language comprehension and it helps learners retain what they read. It also helps with written and spoken language production. We will always need words to operate. Therefore, it is important for teachers to help their students to develop an extensive vocabulary. When a person knows a word, they are not only able to recognise or use it, but their productive and receptive knowledge of the word are well grounded. What are productive and receptive knowledge? Productive knowledge (vocabulary) is the words that we produced within a conversation that match both the context and the intended meaning of the speaker. For second language learners, this vocabulary tends to be larger than their receptive vocabulary. This is because they have learnt words through study rather than exposure. Most times they can produce them but have difficulty recognising them in conversation. Receptive knowledge (vocabulary) is words we generally understand when we hear, read or see them. For native English speakers, their receptive vocabulary is usually the larger of the two. For both productive and receptive vocabulary a person’s word knowledge can vary greatly, for instance, from the first time encountering a word to full knowledge of the word. (Wikipedia, n.d.) What are the different types of vocabulary? Vocabulary can be classified as either spoken or written. These two can be further broken down into four smaller types. These are listening, speaking, reading and writing. Spoken vocabulary represents listening and speaking. Written vocabulary involves reading and writing (English -for-students, n.d.). How do we acquire vocabulary? The way we acquire vocabulary can be divided into two broad areas: listening and reading. Before a child starts to read, they naturally learn new words by listening; and their vocabulary gradually expands as they read. However, many learners rely on the classroom setting to learn the language. Therefore, it is vital for the teacher to incorporate natural methods of language acquisition into their lessons. This would include watching English programmes, reading or simple listen to English related materials. Visual aids also play an essential role in learning and maintaining information. Given this fact, it would be in the students’ best interest to use real objects, pictures, gestures or videos when necessary. If it is possible, attach the word to the visual aid. This will help with word recognition. Picture cards are sometimes referred to as flash cards. Many teachers have found these to be very useful when teaching vocabulary. They are often use for drilling. Flash cards can be either physical or computerised. The physical cards can be used to play many interactive games, such as keyword game, missing game and many more. Bingo, word search and puzzles are also great ideas to help teach vocabulary. These games can help the students retain the new vocabulary. (Teaching English Vocabulary, n.d.) In addition, when teaching vocabulary, it is best to connect the new vocabulary with existing vocabulary, and associate the new word with events or things from their daily life. If it will not take away from the lesson, it would be advantageous to teach related words, for example opposites, such as hot and cold. Frequently used English words should be taught. Before each lesson attention should be given to words that will prevent understanding. The teacher can search for these or ask the student to look through the material beforehand and select the words they do not know. This will allow the teacher to focus only on the problem areas. Many learners of the English language find it a challenge to remember vocabulary when the time arises to utilise it. This may be due to many factors; such as insufficient usage, interference from prior learning, and lack of interest. What can the teacher do to help alleviate these problems? Repetition is the key. Evelyn Waugh once said “One forgets words as one forgets names. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die”. It is also a fact that we are more likely to recall words we hear or use frequently. The teacher can try to stimulate the students’ interest by keeping vocabulary lesson interesting and interactive. To conclude, vocabulary is the pillar of the English language and as a result should be taught. Without words we would not be able to communicate. Therefore, time should be allocated to teach vocabulary and review it on a regular basis. There are many activities that can be used to help learners retain the material. It is the duty of the learner to remember the vocabulary they have been taught. However, we know there are many factors that interfere with our ability to remember words. For that reason repetition is the key. Reference: Listening vocabulary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from http://www.english-for-students.com/types-of-vocabulary.html Teaching English Vocabulary: 10 Fabulous Ways to Teach New Words. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://m.busyteacher.org/2921-teaching-english-vocabulary-10-fabulous-ways-to.htm Vocabulary [Def. 1]. (2019). In Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, Retrieved November 4, 2019, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/vocabulary?q=vocabulary Vocabulary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Vocabulary