1

Vocabulary Building Part 3

Dr. Sarwet Rasul

2

Review of Previous Session

• A continuation on Vocabulary Building• Patterns of Difficulty in Vocabulary • basic steps to a better vocabulary • Key Strategies in Learning Vocabulary Consciousness of

Roots in vocabulary Building• Synonyms and vocabulary• Antonyms and vocabulary• Activities and Exercises

3

Today’s Session

• Some more practice in vocabulary• Bridge words/ phrases in vocabulary• Changing parts of speech • Road Blocks to vocabulary • Helping hints to improve vocabulary

4

The Benefits of Building Your Vocabulary

• Gives you the ability to say what you mean.• Helps you understand other people.• Helps you understand what you read. • Assists you in becoming a more informed and involved citizen.• Allows you to communicate effectively. • Boosts your powers of persuasion.• Helps you make a good impression on others.

(Brett & McKay, 2012)

5

Activity Time: 1 minutePut the words in brackets in the appropriate form (use a prefix or a suffix):

1. He was acting in a very ______way. (child)

2. She looked ______.She started to cry. (happy)

3. He passed his exam. He was ______for the second time. (success)

4. The team that he supported was able to win the ______. (champion)

5. I couldn't find any ______in his theory. (weak)(http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-exercise-affixes.php)

6

Cont… Activity 6. He wants to be a ______when he grows up. (mathematics)

7. There were only a ______of people at the match. (hand)

8. The road was too narrow, so they had to ______it. (wide)

9. I think that you should ______your decision. It may not be the best thing to do. (consider)

10. You need a ______of motivation, organization and hard work to realize your dreams. (combine)

7

Answers

• 1. childish 2. unhappy• 3. successful 4. championship• 5. weakness 6. mathematician• 7. handful 8. widen • 9. reconsider 10. combination

8

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet• For each question below, choose the best answer from the four

possibilities. Think also about why the other three choices are NOT possible.

• 1. You can exercise your ____________ to cancel the contract immediately, but you wouldn't receive any money at that point.a. dutyb. obligationc. rightd. possibility

• 2. We were all in ____________ of the fact that the new manager was our old friend Duncan.a. surpriseb. shockc. awed. amazement

• 3. The icy road conditions ____________ in over twenty minor accidents this morning, but fortunately no-one was seriously injured.a. resultedb. causedc. culminatedd. blamed

9

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet• For each question below, choose the best answer from the four

possibilities. Think also about why the other three choices are NOT possible.

• 1. You can exercise your ____________ to cancel the contract immediately, but you wouldn't receive any money at that point.a. dutyb. obligationc. rightd. possibility

• 2. We were all in ____________ of the fact that the new manager was our old friend Duncan.a. surpriseb. shockc. awed. amazement

• 3. The icy road conditions ____________ in over twenty minor accidents this morning, but fortunately no-one was seriously injured.a. resultedb. causedc. culminatedd. blamed

10

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet

• 4. My uncle Warren is a thoroughly despicable character. His one ____________ feature is that he loves children.a. savingb. recoveringc. improvedd. redeeming

• 5. I don't think anyone understood what I was saying at the meeting, did they? I totally failed to get my point ____________.a. aroundb. aboutc. acrossd. along

11

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet

• 4. My uncle Warren is a thoroughly despicable character. His one ____________ feature is that he loves children.a. savingb. recoveringc. improvedd. redeeming

• 5. I don't think anyone understood what I was saying at the meeting, did they? I totally failed to get my point ____________.a. aroundb. aboutc. acrossd. along

12

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet• 6. There was a veritable ____________ of angry phone calls from members

of the public complaining about the new controversial series on TV.a. galeb. floodc. stormd. earthquake

• 7. The sales practices of this company will have to be totally ____________ if we are to save it.a. overthrownb. overhauledc. overrund. overwhelmed

• 8. For lunch, I always have something quick and easy: a sandwich, a salad, toast and the ____________.a. sameb. similarc. liked. rest

13

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet• 6. There was a veritable ____________ of angry phone calls from

members of the public complaining about the new controversial series on TV.a. galeb. floodc. stormd. earthquake

• 7. The sales practices of this company will have to be totally ____________ if we are to save it.a. overthrownb. overhauledc. overrund. overwhelmed

• 8. For lunch, I always have something quick and easy: a sandwich, a salad, toast and the ____________.a. sameb. similarc. liked. rest

14

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet• 9. The government announced today that they intend to

____________ the rise of crime in the inner cities by increasing police budgets in the areas most affected.a. beatb. winc. retaliated. counter

• 10. We weren't ____________ of the danger we were in until it was too late and the ice started to break. We are lucky to be alive!a. aliveb. alertc. awaked. aware

http://www.esl-lounge.com/level6/lev6vocabmc3ans.php

15

Vocabulary Multiple Choice. Worksheet

• 9. The government announced today that they intend to ____________ the rise of crime in the inner cities by increasing police budgets in the areas most affected.a. beatb. winc. retaliated. counter

• 10. We weren't ____________ of the danger we were in until it was too late and the ice started to break. We are lucky to be alive!a. aliveb. alertc. awaked. aware

16

Activity: Time:1 minute

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate bridge words / phrases. (some may be used more than once)

• find common ground • based on the evidence • hypothetically speaking • however • nevertheless • in conclusion• as a matter of fact

• create an undue burden • in actuality • as a result • from time to time • for example • accordingly

(McDermott, 2006: p.77)

17

Now fill in the blanks1. She is a calm person; ______________________, if you irritate her, she will

become very angry. 2. It is hard for me to _____________________ with him, because he is so

different from me. 3. I love jewelry, like rubies, __________________. 4. He likes to go to the movies ______________________. 5. To exploit workers is to _____________________ on their families. 6. No, ___________________, I do not think I will be able to come over. 7. ___________________, I have nothing else left to say but goodbye. 8. Lila is in a wheelchair _____________________ of the accident. 9. Rita doesn't like the beach, but she is going to the volleyball game there

_____________________.

18

Answers1. however

2. find common ground

3. for example

4. from time to time

5. create an undue burden

6. as a matter of fact

7. In conclusion

8. as a result

9. nevertheless

1. She is a calm person; ______________________, if you irritate her, she will become very angry.

2. It is hard for me to _____________________ with him, because he is so different from me.

3. I love jewelry, like rubies, __________________.

4. He likes to go to the movies ______________________.

5. To exploit workers is to _____________________ on their families.

6. No, ___________________, I do not think I will be able to come over.

7. ___________________, I have nothing else left to say but goodbye.

8. Lila is in a wheelchair _____________________ of the accident.

9. Rita doesn't like the beach, but she is going to the volleyball game there _____________________.

19

Changing Parts of Speech: Vocabulary Building

• A prefix usually changes the meaning of a word• A suffix usually changes its part of speech• For example the suffix –able changes verbs into adjectives

breakable, enjoyable• The prefix –im changes the meaning to opposite

possible impossible

measurable immeasurable

20

Cont… Changing Parts of Speech: Vocabulary Building

21

Cont… Changing Parts of Speech: Vocabulary Building

• More vocabulary activities.doc

22

Road Blocks to Vocabulary Development• There are also some common obstacles or road blocks when improving you

vocabulary. This should not be taken in a negative context. All it requires is patience and some effort. Awareness of these road blocks will ensure you are not deterred from building your vocabulary when confronted by them. Some of these include:

• Vocabulary is multifaceted.

• A word can have different meanings when used within different contexts.

• Words can mean different things just by the way they are said. (http://www.write-better-english.com/importance-of-improving-your-vocabulary.aspx)

23

Cont…Road Blocks to Vocabulary Development

• Our spoken word differs to our written vocabulary.

• With oral vocabulary, we can manage communication by using less range and less depth.

• Hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions make up a very large segment of our verbal communication.

• In contrast to this, however, we don’t have any of these aids at our disposal with the written word.

• As such, a richer vocabulary is needed to accurately convey a message.

24

• The sheer quantity of words in a language can impact upon improving your vocabulary.

• The amount of words in everyday language is staggering in itself; however, we are also required to learn specialized vocabularies as well. This can include business vocabulary or academic vocabulary.

25

Helping hints for Vocabulary development

• Eliminate distractions.

• Read as often as possible.

• Keep an orderly notebook for vocabulary work.

• Do many practice exercises.

• Analyze words by learning prefixes, roots and suffixes.

• Memorize a few words every day.

• Organize a schedule.

• Manage time carefully, and do not wait until the last minute. (McDermott, 2006: p.66)

26

Cont… Helping hints for Vocabulary development

• Use online resources for better understanding.

• Learn to skim dense material.

• Avoid cramming information.

• Try teaching the material to someone else.

• Summarize newly-learned information in writing. (McDermott, 2006: p.66)

27

Drawing towards conclusion!

• Vocabulary knowledge is a very important factor contributing to reading comprehension.

28

Review of Today’s Lesson

• A continuation on Vocabulary Building• Patterns of Difficulty in Vocabulary • basic steps to a better vocabulary • Key Strategies in Learning Vocabulary Consciousness of

Roots in vocabulary Building• Synonyms and vocabulary• Antonyms and vocabulary• Activities and Exercises

29

Thank you very much!