5 Strategies for Building Vocabulary in Your English Language Classroom

Vocabulary is an essential component of language learning and teaching, and it is important for English language teachers to provide ample opportunities for students to acquire new words and phrases. In this blog post, we will explore 5 strategies for building vocabulary in your English language classroom.

  1. Incorporate vocabulary acquisition activities into each lesson: Incorporate activities such as word-of-the-day, word-guessing games, and flashcard drills into your lessons to provide students with regular opportunities to learn and practice new vocabulary.

  2. Use authentic materials: Use authentic materials such as literature, newspapers, and videos to expose students to a wide range of vocabulary in context. This can help students to understand the meaning and usage of new words more easily.

  3. Encourage self-directed vocabulary learning: Encourage students to take responsibility for their own vocabulary learning by providing them with resources such as dictionaries, thesauruses, and online vocabulary tools.

  4. Use technology: Use technology such as language learning apps and websites to provide students with additional opportunities to practice and reinforce new vocabulary.

  5. Provide opportunities for meaningful use: Provide opportunities for students to use new vocabulary in meaningful ways through activities such as discussions, debates, and writing assignments.

In conclusion, building vocabulary is an essential component of language learning, and it is important for English language teachers to provide ample opportunities for students to acquire new words and phrases. By incorporating vocabulary acquisition activities into each lesson, using authentic materials, encouraging self-directed vocabulary learning, using technology, and providing opportunities for meaningful use, teachers can effectively build vocabulary in their English language classroom.

Sources:

  • Oxford, R. (2019). Oxford guide to effective writing and speaking. Oxford University Press.

  • Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge University Press.

  • Schmitt, N. (2008). Researching vocabulary: A vocabulary research manual. Palgrave Macmillan.

Previous
Previous

3 Tips for Incorporating Group Work into Your English Language Lessons

Next
Next

Teaching Culture Alongside Language: 5 Strategies for Success