Vexed by vocab

MaRIGoLd eSToLano aLaM

By:

CAPIZ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL- Teacher III

Of all the complex ideas that teachers try to convey to students, vocabulary seems like a no-brainer. What’s so hard about introducing a word and its definition? Vocabulary seems like the easiest thing to automate: there are thousands of vocabulary apps on the web that purport to build vocabulary with repetition and practice. If learning new words doesn’t even require a teacher, why bother to worry about it?

It turns out that vocabulary acquisition is more complex than it appears, and that many instructional strategies fail to get students to effectively build their knowledge of new words. What should a teacher do then? Challenge students to use vocabulary words, both in writing and during discussion. Ask questions that incorporate the words (“Is this character perspicacious?”) and expect that students repeat the word in their answer. Instead of having students fill out another vocabulary worksheet, ask them to write a paragraph using the new words. Ensure that new words are used repeatedly and frequently. This will lead to deeper understanding and retention.

Rather than spending time inferring meaning from context, give students definitions of new words and help them understand the precise meaning and use. Then engage in active practice where students use the word to create original sentences.

Vocabulary should not be a tedious chore that starts with a worksheet and ends with a quiz. As with any academic topic, students need motivation to learn new words. Ideally, that motivation comes through the intrinsic excitement of communicating in a new way. Students should feel proud when they use a new word and a high-five when they playfully insert a new vocabulary word during discussion.( Contributed article)