TECHNIQUES FOR TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING VOCABULARY ENHANCING VOCABULARY

USING TECHNOLOGYUSING TECHNOLOGY

S. BARATHIS. BARATHIPH. D RESEARCH SCHOLARPH. D RESEARCH SCHOLARDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISHDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISHANNAMALAI UNIVERSITYANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY

INTRODUCTIONNINTRODUCTIONNVocabulary is the foundation for learning a language. Vocabulary is the foundation for learning a language. Without a strong vocabulary, students cannot advance their Without a strong vocabulary, students cannot advance their literary skills. Therefore, there is a growing need for literary skills. Therefore, there is a growing need for improving the vocabulary of students in colleges. The basic improving the vocabulary of students in colleges. The basic vocabulary acquired by students in school is further vocabulary acquired by students in school is further enhanced in college. The teacher has a main role in enhanced in college. The teacher has a main role in bringing out the passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.bringing out the passive vocabulary into active vocabulary. Studies show that without an adequate knowledge of Studies show that without an adequate knowledge of relevant vocabulary, students have difficulty performing the relevant vocabulary, students have difficulty performing the tasks required of them both in school as well as in college tasks required of them both in school as well as in college (Harley, 1996). Harley noted that vocabulary knowledge is (Harley, 1996). Harley noted that vocabulary knowledge is fundamental to the development of second language fundamental to the development of second language proficiency. While many researchers accept the importance proficiency. While many researchers accept the importance of vocabulary acquisition in language proficiency and of vocabulary acquisition in language proficiency and academic achievement, their ideas about how vocabulary academic achievement, their ideas about how vocabulary should be learned have varied widely should be learned have varied widely

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVESIt is obvious that a strong vocabulary contributes to It is obvious that a strong vocabulary contributes to increased communicative ability of students. In the present increased communicative ability of students. In the present age, even at college level students find it difficult to age, even at college level students find it difficult to communicate with their limited vocabulary. The main communicate with their limited vocabulary. The main reason is that the teachers in schools fail to teach their reason is that the teachers in schools fail to teach their students how to access that vocabulary and make words of students how to access that vocabulary and make words of their own. In traditional classes, the information is first their own. In traditional classes, the information is first transmitted through auditory methods and then possibly transmitted through auditory methods and then possibly through visual aids, leaving the student little else to focus through visual aids, leaving the student little else to focus on except the objective of the teacher. The present paper on except the objective of the teacher. The present paper aims at the use technology in enhancing the vocabulary of aims at the use technology in enhancing the vocabulary of college students and thus increasing their ability to use the college students and thus increasing their ability to use the new words they have acquired and their ability to new words they have acquired and their ability to participate in activities like spoken and written participate in activities like spoken and written communication skills. communication skills.

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGYTo develop the vocabulary, internet and other multimedia To develop the vocabulary, internet and other multimedia technologies like online vocabulary puzzle games, word hunt, technologies like online vocabulary puzzle games, word hunt, online vocabulary maze, guessing games, vocabulary card games online vocabulary maze, guessing games, vocabulary card games are used. The target group here is a heterogeneous group are used. The target group here is a heterogeneous group consisting of students from both arts and science streams. The consisting of students from both arts and science streams. The teachers must focus on ways to help the students own the words teachers must focus on ways to help the students own the words they read. According to a research, educators must focus on the they read. According to a research, educators must focus on the practices that help bring words alive for their students (Blachowicz practices that help bring words alive for their students (Blachowicz and Fischer 2004). and Fischer 2004). The major strategies through which teachers can increase the The major strategies through which teachers can increase the vocabulary of the students:vocabulary of the students:Develop word awareness and love of word through play.Develop word awareness and love of word through play.

Develop explicit, rich instruction to build vocabulary.Develop explicit, rich instruction to build vocabulary.Develop word construction strategies. Develop word construction strategies. Engage students actively with a wide range of booksEngage students actively with a wide range of books

STEPS TO IMPROVE STEPS TO IMPROVE VOCABULARYVOCABULARY

Help the students to notice and Help the students to notice and understand new words.understand new words.– Recognizing new words.Recognizing new words.– Producing vocabulary.Producing vocabulary.– Making the students use the new Making the students use the new

vocabulary in their own sentences.vocabulary in their own sentences.

USING ENGLISH DICTIONARYUSING ENGLISH DICTIONARYAlways use a good up to date EnglishAlways use a good up to date English dictionary. dictionary. The definitions in the dictionary must be simple and in The definitions in the dictionary must be simple and in “student friendly” language.“student friendly” language.Using dictionaries to understand the context, clues and Using dictionaries to understand the context, clues and word pats ultimately lead to word ownership. word pats ultimately lead to word ownership. The role of the teacher is to guide the students to select a The role of the teacher is to guide the students to select a “quality” dictionary like Longman, Webster’s, Oxford or “quality” dictionary like Longman, Webster’s, Oxford or Cambridge Dictionary according to the standard and need Cambridge Dictionary according to the standard and need of the students. of the students. The teachers should instruct the students to make a note of The teachers should instruct the students to make a note of new words they come across. new words they come across. The next process is to look up for the meaning in The next process is to look up for the meaning in dictionary, with grammatical information. The teacher dictionary, with grammatical information. The teacher should instruct the students to note down the meaning of should instruct the students to note down the meaning of the new words.the new words.

MAKING VOCABULAY MAKING VOCABULAY NOTEBOOKNOTEBOOK

This is the next step in developing vocabulary of the students. This is the next step in developing vocabulary of the students. the teachers should make the students to note all the new words the teachers should make the students to note all the new words they come across while reading the text.they come across while reading the text. Robert J. Marzano suggests in his book Robert J. Marzano suggests in his book Building Academic Building Academic Vocabulary: Teacher’sVocabulary: Teacher’s Manual,Manual, using tabs in booklets to note using tabs in booklets to note different topics or subjects. different topics or subjects. Students are instructed to note and write down unknown words, Students are instructed to note and write down unknown words, confusing words, or interesting words after discussing the lesson confusing words, or interesting words after discussing the lesson or topic. or topic. Then the next step is to make the students to locate the exact Then the next step is to make the students to locate the exact sentence in which they find the words in the text. sentence in which they find the words in the text. Finally the students are asked to define the words in their own Finally the students are asked to define the words in their own sentences. sentences. The teacher should also assign the students to note the antonyms The teacher should also assign the students to note the antonyms and synonyms along with pictorial presentation of the words and synonyms along with pictorial presentation of the words noted by them from the text.noted by them from the text.

MAKING PARAGRAPHS FROM MAKING PARAGRAPHS FROM VOCABULARY WORDSVOCABULARY WORDS

After noting the important words in the notebook, After noting the important words in the notebook, teachers must guide the students in using the teachers must guide the students in using the words to make sentences. words to make sentences. teachers should guide the students on how to teachers should guide the students on how to write a paragraph on the important events in the write a paragraph on the important events in the text or write a summary of the lesson using the text or write a summary of the lesson using the words they picked from the text. words they picked from the text. Based on the text, the teacher can also provide a Based on the text, the teacher can also provide a set of questions with key words they should use set of questions with key words they should use in their answer. in their answer. This is one of the effective ways in bringing out This is one of the effective ways in bringing out the passive vocabulary into active vocabulary. the passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.

VOCABULARY VOCABULARY COMPREHENSION GAMESCOMPREHENSION GAMES

Teaching vocabulary using a comprehension Teaching vocabulary using a comprehension paragraph to boost the vocabulary of students. paragraph to boost the vocabulary of students. Teachers should prepare comprehension Teachers should prepare comprehension exercises taking dialogues from the text or exercises taking dialogues from the text or paraphrasing the text. paraphrasing the text. Below the paragraph, provide a set of five to ten Below the paragraph, provide a set of five to ten questions focused on the meaning of words. questions focused on the meaning of words. For instance, teacher can pick up difficult words For instance, teacher can pick up difficult words from the paragraph and ask the students to from the paragraph and ask the students to select a suitable synonym or antonym from a set select a suitable synonym or antonym from a set of options.of options.

MAKING BINGO SHEETS FOR MAKING BINGO SHEETS FOR VOCABULARYVOCABULARY

The crisscross bingo game is an easy, simple and powerful way to The crisscross bingo game is an easy, simple and powerful way to learn vocabulary. learn vocabulary. Tools forTools for EducatorsEducators is a free web site which offers the teachers a is a free web site which offers the teachers a wide range of tools to create printable versions of bingo sheets wide range of tools to create printable versions of bingo sheets online.online. The 3x3bingo board maker and 4x4 bingo board generators are The 3x3bingo board maker and 4x4 bingo board generators are the bingo game makers that allow us to create bingo boards for the bingo game makers that allow us to create bingo boards for vocabulary practice using images. We can select the image you vocabulary practice using images. We can select the image you want to use and type in any text we like. So, we can choose from want to use and type in any text we like. So, we can choose from thousands of images to create the perfect bingo game board. We thousands of images to create the perfect bingo game board. We can make up to 16 bingo boards per sheet. Four boards will print can make up to 16 bingo boards per sheet. Four boards will print on one sheet of paper for the 3x3 boards. Two boards will print on on one sheet of paper for the 3x3 boards. Two boards will print on one sheet of paper for the 4x4 boards. If a set does not have one sheet of paper for the 4x4 boards. If a set does not have enough vocabulary to make your boards, choose the 'blank option enough vocabulary to make your boards, choose the 'blank option and fill in the remaining squares with text or have students draw and fill in the remaining squares with text or have students draw in their own pictures in the blank squares. Once bingo boards are in their own pictures in the blank squares. Once bingo boards are generated, go into the 'file' menu at the top left of the browser generated, go into the 'file' menu at the top left of the browser and choose print. and choose print.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONStudents who receive good strategy training in vocabulary Students who receive good strategy training in vocabulary development can apply these strategies to a wide variety of life-development can apply these strategies to a wide variety of life-long situations including job-related training, acquiring knowledge long situations including job-related training, acquiring knowledge associated with their interests, hobbies and in preparing for higher associated with their interests, hobbies and in preparing for higher education. education. Researchers in the field attempt to provide theories in Researchers in the field attempt to provide theories in order to explain the useful impact of multimedia in enhancing order to explain the useful impact of multimedia in enhancing language learning. since multimedia users are able to process language learning. since multimedia users are able to process combined media (text, sound, and visual) simultaneously, combined media (text, sound, and visual) simultaneously, proponents of instructional multimedia have argued that the proponents of instructional multimedia have argued that the increase of sensorial input available via the technology coupled increase of sensorial input available via the technology coupled with the potential for active engagement in, and interaction with with the potential for active engagement in, and interaction with this input predicts that content (in this case the target language) this input predicts that content (in this case the target language) will be more readily integrated into a learner’s developmental will be more readily integrated into a learner’s developmental system and, in turn, recalled more thoroughly. system and, in turn, recalled more thoroughly. The presence of both pictorial and verbal cues can facilitate The presence of both pictorial and verbal cues can facilitate learning. If information is cognitively processed through visual or learning. If information is cognitively processed through visual or verbal channels, a dual processing strategy assumes that verbal channels, a dual processing strategy assumes that individuals develop mental pictorial representations of graphic individuals develop mental pictorial representations of graphic input and mental verbal representations of linguistic input.input and mental verbal representations of linguistic input.

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