Vocabulary Learning Tips

April 26, 2013Tonny Kuo

Dept. of English InstructionNational Hsinchu University of Education

bear4125910@gmail.com

Do you still remember the

first way you learnt

vocabulary? Share with us!

Content

• Importance of vocabulary

• Kinds of vocabulary

• 5 steps of meeting new vocabulary

• Ways of learning

• 5 steps of learning vocabulary

• 8 Tips for Learning words

• Reference

Importance of vocabulary

• Appear in every language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

• Support good communication.

• Help to define and translate the meaning.

Kinds of Vocabulary

• Passives vocabulary v.s. active vocabulary

• Part of Speech: Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb...

• Listening vocabulary: hear words and mimic themSpeaking vocabulary: associating them with objects and actionsReading and writing attained

Passives vocabulary contains all the words that we understand when we read or listen, but which we do not use or can not remember in our own writing or speaking.

Active vocabulary contains all the words we understand and use.

5 steps of meeting new vocabulary

1. Never encountered the word.

2. Heard the word, but cannot define it.

3. Recognize the word due to context or tone of voice.

4. Able to use the word but cannot clearly explain it.

5. Fluent with the word – its use and definition.

Ways of learning

• Memorizing

• Association

• Repetition

• Writing

Though this is frequently the case, it is not always true. When faced with a false cognate, memorization and repetition are the keys to mastery. If a second language learner relies

5 steps of learning vocabulary

1. Encountering new words

2. Getting a clear image of the form of the vocabulary item (visual or auditory or both)

3. Getting the word meaning

4. Consolidation of form and meaning in memory

5. Using the words

8 Tips for

Learningwords

1. Decide the word is worth

learning now.

2. Record information about

new words you decide to learn.

3. Learn words from the same

family.

4. Learn words that go with the

key word you are learning.

5. Create a word web.

6. Memorize common prefixes,

roots, and suffixes.

7. Make vocabulary flash cards.

1. Decide the word is worth learning now.

• Anna McMullen is a campaigner for Labour Behind the Label which calls itself a group "that supports garment workers' efforts worldwide to improve their working conditions." She works with global partners on campaigns around poverty wages in the fashion industry, and has co-authored research reports on labor rights.

• Task: Mark the words that you should learn.

2. Record information about new words you

decide to learn.New word healthy

Translation 健康

Part of speech adjective

Sentence where found

Oliver is well-known for sharing his

secrets of cooking healthy food.

My own sentence I exercise to stay fit and healthy.

3. Learn words from the same family.

happiness n.

happy adj.

happily adv.

4. Learn words that go with the key word you

are learning.

5. Create a word web.

6. Memorize common prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

7. Make vocabulary flash cards.

Reference

• The Importance of Vocabulary in English Learning http://universityofibnkhaldunbogor-indonesia.blogspot.tw/2010/01/importance-of-vocabulary-in-english.html

• Vocabulary Learning Tips adapted from ACTIVE READING