Hi Alice,
Yes, lack of vocabulary is a problem, perhaps the biggest problem for learners of any foreign language. Not only do they have to learn a lot of words ... but also how to use them.
questions!
... how do you currently teach vocabulary to your students ?
... are they encouraged to keep notebooks?
.... if so, how are they organised?
.... can the students
use any resource to
practice their new vocabulary?
... do they just try to remember translations or
learn by doing?
two suggestions
1. Look at
http://www.wordsurfing.co.uk ....... this is a website specifically aimed at helping students
i) find the best way of learning vocabulary
ii) use new words as soon as possible
iii) gain in confidence by continually highlighting proven improvement
iv) identify words that need further practising until known
anyway, lots more info on the site, hope it helps.
2. There is also an excellent book
Scott Thornbury - "How to Teach Vocabulary"
- it's published by Longmann. Recommended to any teacher.
Finally... your Pre-Test ? Post Test? question.....I think the answer is the same... you just have to
motivate your students to want to improve their vocabulary.
So....
a)
emphasise it's importance...the more words your students can use... the better! It's obvious, vital ...but often overlooked. Remember too... it's not how many translations that are known that counts....it's how many words can be
understood and used.
b)
encourage self-study outside the classroom by providing any learning strategy that proves on-going improvement (see wordsurfing)
Best wishes
Will
P.S ... It does sound like you're doing research!!! ....and I hope more teachers follow your lead. Vocabulary acquisition is vital. The teaching community as a whole should, I believe, be placing far more emphasis on this area. ( hence my recent website)...the method described can be adapted for use with all ages.
