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The Lost Art. by Myrtis Mixon. Words are Lost. Why do I say that words are lost? With the emphasis on communicative teaching, we sometimes forget “ words ”. Two Ways to Learn Vocabulary. Incidental Learning Explicit teaching What do you use to teach vocabulary?.
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The Lost Art by Myrtis Mixon
Words are Lost Why do I say that words are lost? • With the emphasis on communicative teaching, we sometimes forget “words”
Two Ways to Learn Vocabulary • Incidental Learning • Explicit teaching What do you use to teach vocabulary?
Myths about vocabulary teaching • In learning a language, vocabulary is not as important as grammar • Using word lists to learn 2nd language vocabulary is unproductive (But use variety) • The use of translations to learn new vocabulary should be discouraged
Myths • Guessing words from context is an excellent strategy for learning 2nd language vocabulary (Incidental vocabulary learning through reading explains only a small % of word knowledge) • The best dictionary for 2nd language learners is a monolingual dictionary (Teachers MUST STOP pushing learners toward using monolingual dictionaries) (Keith Folse) Handout
Current Research Use frequency lists. • 2000 high-frequency words: 80% of words (GSL) General Service List - http://jbauman.com/gls.html Use academic word list: http://www.vux.ac.nz/LALS/DIV1/AWL
Teach Explicitly • Vocabulary is the single, strongest predictor of academic success. Explicit Steps: • Pronounce, explain, give examples, elaborate review/assess student learning • Engage learners: activities with evidence-checks: • Word charts, sentence starters, oral sharing. http://www.calstat.org/learningCenter/pdfs/narrowinglanguageGap.pdf Kinsella (2005)
Actively Engage Use a variety of methods • Two 10 minute periods/day of explicit vocabulary instruction can yield 95% improvement in reading comprehension. 1) Spell and say, word maps, word associations, word gestures; 2) Word analysis: semantic mapping, word classification & manipulation, cloze activities, word consciousness activities Ventriglia (2005)
Explicit Teaching • Explicitly teach and test vocabulary • Teach students how to keep vocabulary notebooks • Teach phrasal verbs (take off/take over) • Collocations or word groupings (squander+money/commit+crime) • Use exercises that require multiple retrievals of words • Use repetition & multiple exposures (retrievals) Keith Folse (2004)
Incidental Learning For incidental learning: • Increase the reading assignments • Use rich oral language and extensive reading; reading has the greatest impact on students’ vocabulary knowledge
Vocabulary Notebook Teach learners to use a neat and spacious vocabulary notebook!! • Include target word, translation, synonym or antonym or key connecting word, and a brief example; not a whole sentence, but a good collocation
Repetition/Retrieval Repetition is not the same as retrieval • When learners hear or see a new word, they need an activity that forces them to retrieve the meaning (multiple times ideally)
Rules For Vocabulary Learning
Rules • Work on vocabulary in every lesson • Once you teach vocabulary, you must test vocabulary • Vocabulary practice in some way… the number of forced retrievals makes the difference
Notebook Example Handout
End of the Lost Art It Has Been Found
Myrtis MixonContact Information MYRTIS101@mac.com