Dear all,
I am looking for suggestions on how to help my students to enlarge their vocabulary. They have been learning English as a foreign English for about six years but they are still at an elementary level.
Thanks,
Apple
vocabulary acquisition
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Ways to learn English vocabulary
I believe the best way to learn English vocabulary is by topics with explanations of meaning, examples of usage and subsequent exercises. It is possible to practise English vocabulary through exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.
1. Learners of English should have lists of difficult word meanings and of phrases (expressions) on every topic with usage sentences. They must read those ready-made vocabulary usage sentences many times if needed. Longman Language Activator Dictionary (unique English Idea Production Dictionary) covers this issue thoroughly. It is essential that learners also make up their own sentences with that vocabulary, taking into consideration real life situations.
2. Students of English can learn a lot of vocabulary on every topic from thematic English dictionaries. Good thematic English dictionaries provide clear word usage explanations and also a few usage sentences for each word meaning, which is especially important. It is essential that students of English also make up their own sentences with difficult vocabulary. They should think about the real life situations where and when that vocabulary can be used.
3. Do ready-made exercises from textbooks in vocabulary practice. Exercises in vocabulary practice can include dialogues, narrations (telling stories), thematic texts, questions and answers in various situations, discussions, talking points and expressing opinions and views on real life topics and issues.
4. Learners can also master new English vocabulary by reading thematic texts (materials), first of all on everyday topics with important content, for example: Practical Tips and Advice to Make Everyday Life Easier and Better (practical solutions for everyday problems). Such self-help books on settling everyday matters are available at book stores.
Learners must write down unknown vocabulary in whole sentences. It is essential that they practise telling the content of the texts that they have read. As people say, practice makes perfect.
THEMATIC GENERAL ENGLISH DICTIONARIES (extremely important for logical and quicker vocabulary acquisition):
1. Longman Language Activator (Unique idea production English dictionary, very valuable for solid vocabulary acquisition).
There is also Longman Pocket Activator Dictionary. Longman English dictionaries are the most authoritative.
2. Longman Lexicon of Contemporary English.
3. The Oxford-Duden Pictorial English Dictionary (by J. Pheby, 1995, 816 pages).
4. Oxford Learner's Wordfinder Dictionary.
5. Word Menu (dictionary by Stephen Glazier, Random House, USA, over 75 000 words arranged by subject matter).
6. Cambridge Word Selector/Routes.
7. NTC's Dictionary of Everyday American English Expressions (over 7, 000 phrases arranged by topics).
1. Learners of English should have lists of difficult word meanings and of phrases (expressions) on every topic with usage sentences. They must read those ready-made vocabulary usage sentences many times if needed. Longman Language Activator Dictionary (unique English Idea Production Dictionary) covers this issue thoroughly. It is essential that learners also make up their own sentences with that vocabulary, taking into consideration real life situations.
2. Students of English can learn a lot of vocabulary on every topic from thematic English dictionaries. Good thematic English dictionaries provide clear word usage explanations and also a few usage sentences for each word meaning, which is especially important. It is essential that students of English also make up their own sentences with difficult vocabulary. They should think about the real life situations where and when that vocabulary can be used.
3. Do ready-made exercises from textbooks in vocabulary practice. Exercises in vocabulary practice can include dialogues, narrations (telling stories), thematic texts, questions and answers in various situations, discussions, talking points and expressing opinions and views on real life topics and issues.
4. Learners can also master new English vocabulary by reading thematic texts (materials), first of all on everyday topics with important content, for example: Practical Tips and Advice to Make Everyday Life Easier and Better (practical solutions for everyday problems). Such self-help books on settling everyday matters are available at book stores.
Learners must write down unknown vocabulary in whole sentences. It is essential that they practise telling the content of the texts that they have read. As people say, practice makes perfect.
THEMATIC GENERAL ENGLISH DICTIONARIES (extremely important for logical and quicker vocabulary acquisition):
1. Longman Language Activator (Unique idea production English dictionary, very valuable for solid vocabulary acquisition).
There is also Longman Pocket Activator Dictionary. Longman English dictionaries are the most authoritative.
2. Longman Lexicon of Contemporary English.
3. The Oxford-Duden Pictorial English Dictionary (by J. Pheby, 1995, 816 pages).
4. Oxford Learner's Wordfinder Dictionary.
5. Word Menu (dictionary by Stephen Glazier, Random House, USA, over 75 000 words arranged by subject matter).
6. Cambridge Word Selector/Routes.
7. NTC's Dictionary of Everyday American English Expressions (over 7, 000 phrases arranged by topics).
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Sally Olsen
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We had competitions with the students and that seemed to spur them to learn more. I don't know the level of your students or their age but it seems that all ages like a bit of competition. You can have competitions between classes as well. Give them a list of words to learn and then devise a test so they can gauge their progress.
We also had a Passport to English and had 20 to 25 words a page. When the children could say the word and use it in a sentence or build a story with the 20 words, we stamped their page. The prize at the end was a picture dictionary of 1000 words. We also did it by topic or themes like the picture dictionaries do.
We had a Word Wall with interesting or difficult words. We colour coded the words so that verbs went together and nouns and so on. Of course, some words were in two or three columns depending on their use in a sentence. Some students just like words that make a funny sound to them and put them up on the word wall. They liked to use the felt pens to make the words in fancy letters too.
We also had a Passport to English and had 20 to 25 words a page. When the children could say the word and use it in a sentence or build a story with the 20 words, we stamped their page. The prize at the end was a picture dictionary of 1000 words. We also did it by topic or themes like the picture dictionaries do.
We had a Word Wall with interesting or difficult words. We colour coded the words so that verbs went together and nouns and so on. Of course, some words were in two or three columns depending on their use in a sentence. Some students just like words that make a funny sound to them and put them up on the word wall. They liked to use the felt pens to make the words in fancy letters too.