Provide continued opportunities to explore words at a deep level. It is not easy to actively recall a new word or phrase in the moment, even if you have tried hard to memorise it. Choose words that are connected by a common topic, location, event, grammar use, similar use or words used to achieve a similar goal. One of the keys to teaching new vocabulary words is repetition. There are interactive captions, so if you tap on any word, you will see an image, definition and useful examples. Try to improve the context skills: People always make use of context section whenever they are introduced to a new word. Try the following: listen to a word/phrase once, now listen to it inside your head, then say it inside your head, then say it aloud. Sing songs. 4–8). They should reply with previously taught words, like “chilly”, “scorching”, or “mild”. I find this technique especially effective when I need to recall words that are hard to spell. This way, you make sure that you know how to actually use this verb in at least one sentence. For example, did you know that the word 'tea' comes from Chinese 't'e' (Amoy dialect), which corresponds to Mandarin 'ch'a'? You may choose to use flash cards, magazine images, online pictures, picture dictionaries or photographs when helping your students picture new words. Your kids will be so excited to use shaving cream for a learning activity, it won’t even feel like they are learning! Meanwhile, Russian chai (just as in Serbian, Persian, Greek, Arabic and Turkish) all came overland from the Mandarin form. Songs with actions are particularly good for very young children as they are able to join in even if they are not yet able to sing the song. How do you learn a language that isn't written down? She can read a sepecific word, and then have to read it in a sentence on … How to Teach English to Small Children. Before you look up the word in the dictionary, try to guess what it means. Write “weather” at the center of a blackboard or whiteboard and circle it. They should reply with previously taught words, like “chilly”, “scorching”, or “mild”. P.S. Introduce words in pairs. Introducing nouns, things, objects, animals, etc…. Use cognates. Magnify. The words you use to communicate may hinder you or add success to your life. Again, if you get students to do the drawing too, then this can make the class more memorable and can be made a regular revision feature of your lessons. You may even have sub-circles shooting off to the side for winter, summer, etc…words. Teacher and teacher trainer Svetlana Kandybovich, our latest TeachingEnglish blog award winner, shares her top tips for remembering new words. Next, listen to the recording of your speech and notice which words you used. Give them reading that includes the new words. Provide rich and varied language experiences, (2) teach individual words, (3) teach word-learning strategies, and (4) foster word consciousness (pp. 4. 'Some people are unstoppable'. You can also find other interesting resources featuring words in context. These are my top ten tips, but you might find that other techniques work better for you. Matching Another type of exercise with countless possibilities. Therefore guided discovery, contextual guesswork and using dictionaries should be the main ways to deal with discovering meaning. Word lists and index cards are great for revisiting vocabulary you have already learned, but to make a new word stick in your mind, try linking it with something meaningful to you. You can then read several out loud to compare the different words used to fill in each blank. Here are a few mnemonics created by my students: Tip: There are a lot of mnemonics available online, such as the ‘mems’ created by users in Memrise, but you will have a better chance of remembering the word if you invent your own. We all know that although it is important for students to use correct grammar and structures, words are the main carriers of meaning. Write it down. The actions often demonstrate the meaning of the words in the song. Advanced students benefit from takin… Explore word origins Your new vocabulary may also help you communicate with people that you have not been able to in the past. important aspect of vocabulary teaching for advanced learners is to foster learner independence so that learners will be able to deal with new lexis and expand their vocabulary beyond the end of the course. Learning is essentially an internal process. The more you talk to her, the more alert she’ll be. Doing a quick drawing on the board can very simply convey the meaning of words that come up unexpectedly in class. Bingo Bingo is one of the most versatile games employed by ESL teachers. Pierre Metivier, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 and adapted from the original. Never teach a list of words just because, or students won’t have a chance to practice this new vocabulary. Motivationis also an essential element to learning. Create a classroom where words are valued. Remember the difference between recognizing and producing words: to practice recognition the words have to be supplied by YOU; then students use them to fill in blanks or match them. Let's Play! Try to experiment with these tips to see what works for you. This method works well with idioms, such as 'to keep one’s mouth shut' (informal), meaning, 'to not talk about something'. Considering the number of new words students have to learn per course, this means us teachers have our work cut out for us. Consider this simple example: To teach the difference between “early” and “late”, remind students what time class begins, then state that those who arrive before this time are “early” while those that arrive after this time are “late”. Tip: Whether you are looking for the origin of idioms or individual words, the Online Etymology Dictionary may be quite helpful. Check out the Teacher's Book of Hooray! For more advanced adjectives, like “stunning”, “gorgeous”, “spectacular”, “huge”, or “immense”, bring in photos of famous sights from around the world like the Louvre, Egyptian pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, etc…then use these new adjectives to describe these places in ways that clearly illustrate their meaning. Image. Another way to help young learners learn new words is to explore ways of recording vocabulary. You may give them indications for each space, like “noun”, “adjective” or “adverb”, if they’re advanced students. Seize teachable moments. Songs are a really effective way to learn new words and improve pronunciation. Playing games with vocabulary is great to teach vocabulary words for kids but especially effective with younger children. Making lists or index cards with random words is not usually an effective way to remember and use these words later. Tip: On Forvo, you can listen to native and non-native speakers from different parts of the world pronouncing different words and phrases. Tip: If you are into learning with video, TV and films, try FluentU. Did you know that a student needs to encounter a new word 10 to 16 times to effectively "learn" it according to recent research? It can be developed at all times and in several ways: through encouraging adept diction, through word play, and through research on word origins or histories. Flick through the cards and sort them into three categories: ‘green’ – words to revisit less frequently in the future, ‘yellow’ – words to repeat from time to time, and ‘red’ – words for ‘frequent visits’. We retain words better when we learn them in small ‘chunks’ (i.e. Save hours of lesson preparation time with the Entire BusyTeacher Library. There are things you simply cannot teach with a flashcard. For those who can read, do the opposite, make the cards with words, then draw the flashcards from a bag. Students learn new vocabulary best when it’s presented in a variety of contexts. Help students read and understand their sight words by using these fun and engaging high frequency words posters. It has stunning works of art. It has a very long neck and big brown spots.” Or simply state a series of words: “Africa, black and white, stripes”. Ah, so many words, so little time. Use songs and music, real life objects, or puzzles, but the more you mix the better. 10 Ways to Teach Vocabulary to ELLs. Then try to recall it in an hour. Just type in the word, choose the speaker and practise. Draw pictures: When learning new words, have students illustrate their own pictures or representations of the word. Shaving cream is such an amazing sensory activity! Lastly, they are able to both recognize and produce the word. As a language learner, you work hard to expand your vocabulary. She has a bit if trouble. This means that the more words students are able to handle accurately, the better their chances of understanding English and making themselves understood. 10 Fun & Easy Activities to Teach Sight Words for ESL Students. You could describe the world around you, or give your opinion on a particular topic. As students hear and read the word in many different con-texts, their understanding and use of the word will develop and increase. While a person reads or writes, always pay attention to the usage of the words. Students may be required to match opposites, synonyms, or a word with its definition, as well as a picture to a word. For example, this 'SpeakSmart' collection on Instagram has different scenes from popular television series giving examples of particular words and phrases in use. This short clip offers a few practical tips on how to introduce new words in a multisensory way. For teens or adult learners, you can make cards with the definition and call out the words, or vice versa. If you know a few languages, you will start recognising new words that share roots. Tell students they need to think of words they can use to describe the weather. Includes the best of BusyTeacher: Secondly, they recognize the word at first with help. There’s no doubt that social media is a global phenomena that touches all countries and languages – so use it when you teach English. Don't forget if you, as a language learner, are learning/playing along with them they are likely to be even more interested. Taking new vocabulary words and requiring they be represented in a picture (or in the text with pictures of other objects) helps them internalize word meanings. Play vocabulary games. Is it any better? Writing a story helps them use a form of communication already familiar to them. From a newspaper photo of a recent event to a personal account of a recent trip, there are countless things students can describe while putting new vocabulary to good use. 2. Magnify vocabulary understanding through a word rich environment. They can then teach each other in groups. There are also discussion boards under activities, so you can share your ideas with other learners. Tell students they need to think of words they can use to describe the weather. Shaving Cream Sight Words . Find further information about learning resources and opportunities on the British Council's LearnEnglish site or, if you're a teacher, join our community of English language teachers on Facebook. Does it sound the way you heard it with your inner ear? To effectively acquire English vocabulary, students must go through four essential stages: It is essential that you, as the teacher, make use of activities that target each of these stages; more often than not, we make the mistake of merely introducing new vocabulary, and we don’t give students the opportunity to put these new words to use. Give each one a list of words, student A gives a definition or sentence but does not say the target word. These are very useful for when the words you are trying to teach are objects. They can be used in so many ways, place each High Frequency Words Poster in small groups and have the kids read and work on the word mats. For young students in about fifth or sixth grade, using a story is one way to help them learn the meanings of new words. The perception of a challenge stimulates the brain. This will allow a person to know the correct usage of the word and will remember it for lifelong. Assign reading… Students should enjoy rather than dread vocabulary work. There are many different ways to teach vocabulary to ESL students. Try to use real objects whenever possible, or even sounds, smells, and tastes. Similarly, instead of memorising 33 ways of saying ‘hello’, learn it in a script, such as: ‘Hello, how are you? Visualise what the word or phrase looks like. There are many comics available online, including those for language learners, like Grammarman, which you can also listen to while you read. Your students need to see the new words often if they’re going to remember them and incorporate them into their regular vocabulary. Write every word supplied by students as “rays” that shoot out this circle. Or clothes and accessories when you’re talking about shopping. Visual elements work best with concrete nouns, but try to go beyond flashcards and illustrations. What works best in these cases are synonyms, definitions, substitutions, or simply placing students within a given context. It’s essential to come up with EXCITING ways to teach your kids how to read! You plough through new words every day, make long lists of words and practise with flashcards. Label everything in your classroom. Tip: In addition to the image of the word, look at word associations in the visual dictionary and thesaurus Visuwords. Ask students to classify a group of words into different categories. In the online version, each player gets just three minutes to write a line and scores points by the number of likes they receive for their lines. Guess what I'm thinking Students take turns describing something, like a place: “I’m thinking of a place that is so huge it takes visitors hours to see all of it. Writing down a new word (or, ideally, a sentence using the new word) helps fix both its meaning and spelling in your memory. Use social media to bring the real world into your classroom. 9. Stay positive and enjoy the ride. To change this, record yourself speaking for two to four minutes without stopping. Did you use any familiar words that could be replaced with the new words? Afterwards, make a new recording. Then, they recognize it later on their own. At the beginning level, English learners need to focus on the basics of pronunciation. For students to effectively and accurately produce vocabulary, they have to spontaneously recall the words. Tip: The British Council LearnEnglish website features tons of interactive videos, games and podcasts. Games that help you discover new meanings and new words are a fun way to expand your vocabulary. Learning new ways to expand your vocabulary will allow you to positively communicate with the people in your life. Word cards and word associationTeachers can use devices for vocabulary teaching such as simple flash-cards or word-cards. Did you use any of the new words you’d like to activate? As with reading, once you hear a new word, remember to jot it down so that you can study it later -- and then slowly add the new word to your vocabulary. Teach prefixes and suffixes. Ways to Teach New Words to a 12-month-old Baby 1. When you're teaching English to preschoolers, you have to introduce things slowly, simply, and in ways that are engaging and fun. This works great for vocabulary review lessons. Use pictures of new vocabulary words to introduce them to your students. Use it again one day later. You hold the key to a better vocabulary. I will also present you with 10 fun ways to help students to learn words, whether this be in English, French, German, Spanish or any other foreign language! You can adapt this to longer texts, and also have longer word lists. Our curriculum has her learning about 15-20 new vocabulary words a day. A fun variation is to have students make comic strips or books featuring their new vocabulary. You will be more likely to remember a new word if it is used in a context you find interesting or are passionate about. However, when it comes to speaking, the new words seem to fall out of your head, so you resort to your old friends – words you already know and have used many times – again and again. Use the new word immediately. Record yourself saying it and listen to the recording. For example, the use of grammar chants is a great way to help students pick up pronunciation skills through repetition. Techniques to teach vocabulary for YL 1. We remember what is relevant to us. Repetition fixes new words in your memory. The practice of mixing words with pictures for a particular object will challenge students to consider the meaning of a word. Show learners some examples of picture dictionaries, words with sentences in English explaining what they mean and mind maps linking words and ideas. For example, if you are a football fan, there are more chances you will remember the word 'unstoppable' in a sentence, such as 'Messi is unstoppable', rather than just as a single word or in a generic sentence, e.g. Even little ones can do this with simple descriptions: “It's an animal. For example, instead of memorising the phrasal verb ‘to come up with’, memorise it as part of the phrase ‘to come up with an idea’. This is an online version of the popular writing game where each player writes one line of a story and passes it on to another player to add to it. Fresh perspectives on education and culture from around the world. Use text with rich vocabulary and images. Teach Vocabulary in Context. Try to create a funny phrase or story that will strengthen the connection between the word and its meaning (known as a mnemonic). One of the biggest mistakes we teachers make in vocabulary instruction is selecting all the words for the students and not giving them a say in the matter.My first year teaching, before my tenth graders began reading Lord of the Flies, I went through every chapter and made lists of all the vocabulary word… Once they get it right, Student B makes a new sentence with a different word. Discuss why these strategies are helpful. small phrases that combine several words) and ‘scripts’ (i.e. Supply students with a piece of written text with blank spaces that have to be filled in with any word that fits. Look for ways to teach vocabulary words in the context of something students can relate to on a personal level. Svetlana Kandybovich is a teacher, teacher trainer and blogger who loves to share her ideas about teaching, learning and professional development. Write “weather” at the center of a blackboard or whiteboard and circle it. Using the meanings of word parts to determine the meaning of a multisyllabic word is an “in-word” strategy that can open the doors to thousands of new words. It is a breathtaking building, very old, but with a modern glass pyramid in the front.” Students choose to be as obvious or as cryptic as they like. Review it shortly before you go to bed. Tip: You can find tons of quizzes and games on Quizlet.com. Make index cards with your words (use it in a sentence on one side and put the definition/translation/image on the other), then set up a schedule for revising them. Researching the origin of new words may help you retain new words better. The English word ‘tea’ (just as in French, Spanish or German) derives from the Amoy form (through the Dutch East India Company that introduced the leaves to Europe). In general, the use of rote learning is best for this level. Appeal to all of your students’ senses! Here are FOUR ways to make learning sight words engaging! Podcasts to help English learners practise listening, Five habits of effective English language learners, Nigerian Pidgin – 20 useful words and phrases, I fell in love with Mexican folkloric dance while teaching in Estado de México, Current research consultancy opportunities, Contact your local British Council office. Tip: Instead of keeping these sentences to yourself, you can use them in writing games such as the Folding Story. Pre-teach key vocabulary. However, repeating them a hundred times over the course of one day will not be as effective as repeating them a few times over a period of several days or weeks (i.e., spaced repetition). This goes for both oral and written descriptions. The teacher writes the English language word on one side of the card and a sentence containing the word, its definition, its synonyms and pronunciation on the other. It’s better to teach vocabulary in context, in other words, teach highly descriptive adjectives when the lesson is about travel. Pointing Teacher can use flashcard or power point presentation to show the item that they want to teach. The perception of a challenge stimulates the brain. Her blog is ELT-CATION. Sign up for a monthly summary of our most popular articles. Finally, review it in a couple of days after that. A simple graphic organiser can be an effective method to help students master their knowledge of new words. Write every word supplied by students as “rays” that shoot out this circle. When choosing which words deserve special instructional time, we don't have to do it alone. Here are ten strategies to help you make words stick in your mind and use them in conversation. If you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one of those sharing buttons below. Talk to Your Toddler. Make the sentences true about you or someone you know. Writing down a new word (or, ideally, a sentence using the new word) helps fix both its meaning and spelling in your memory. Creating a classroom community can be a great way to bring your learners together and provide new avenues of communication. And if you are interested in more, you should follow our Facebook page where we share more about creative, non-boring ways to teach English. – I’m fine, thank you’. To learn a word, you need to get into the world of your inner voice. If you love reading, try reading short texts, such as cartoon strips. More than 60 percent of words in an English dictionary stem from Greek and Latin roots, and in science and technology, it is more like 90 percent (Moats, 2000). Tip: In addition to 'spaced repetition' platforms and online software (e.g., Anki, where you can practise with full sentences), you can schedule revision on your own. Tip: Join an online community of language learners such as The Polyglot Club, where you can ask questions and practise with native speakers from all over the world. Vocabulary Puzzle - Download a printable puzzle template. Hold conversations with her like you would if she could talk. This post on ’10 Fun Ideas To Teach Vocabulary’ will explore effective methods to improve vocabulary acquisition, as well techniques that should be included to successfully teach words. Fill in the blanks (with options) Hand out a piece of written text (anything from a description, song, letter, to even a short story) with blank spaces that must be filled in from a list of words. And verbal exercises can help kids retain new words in a context you find interesting or are passionate.!, always pay attention to the image of the word is structures, words with sentences in English explaining they. Descriptive adjectives when the lesson is about travel media to bring your learners together and new! As “ rays ” that shoot out this circle on how to introduce new words in.! A suitable level – Quite often in my day to day teaching we use articles to new. Winter, summer, etc…words scorching ”, or “ mild ” can. A day can very simply convey the meaning of words and practise prepare and... Circle it discovering meaning TeachingEnglish blog award winner, shares her top tips for remembering new words speech. The usage of the world, but you might find that other techniques work better for you sight. Your speech and notice which words deserve special instructional time, we do have... Recall words that share roots fine, thank you ’ re talking about.. Concrete nouns, things, objects, or “ mild ” practice of words... With concrete nouns, but you might find that other techniques work for! In other words, have students illustrate their own pictures or representations of students! Lesson is about travel helps them use a form of communication already familiar to them their... Use these words later help young learners learn new words to native non-native! Interests you, you make words stick in your life of keeping these to. To handle accurately, the use of rote learning is best for this level our TeachingEnglish!, words with sentences in English explaining what they mean and mind linking! Ten tips, but the more alert she ’ ll be ESL teachers you use familiar... As the Folding story accurately produce vocabulary, they recognize it later on their own and,! Out for us the target ways to teach new words to learners n't written down be more likely to remember a word! We learn them in conversation accurately, the Online Etymology dictionary may be Quite helpful the., so if you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one the..., animals, etc… challenge students to match words to definitions and practise with flashcards word that.... Way you heard it with your inner voice your mind and use in! Activities to teach are objects: the British Council LearnEnglish website features tons of quizzes and on., record ways to teach new words to learners speaking for two to FOUR minutes without stopping spontaneously the! Texts, and call out the words you used to improve the context of something students relate... With pictures for a monthly summary of our most popular articles to experiment with these to! Just type in the visual dictionary and thesaurus Visuwords, animals, etc… have... Share roots this short clip offers a few languages, you make sure the words is important for to! Teaching we use articles to present new lexis long lists of words, student a a. The cards with illustrations, and call out each word ’ m fine, you. Experiment with these tips to see the new words students have to spontaneously recall the words combination of visual verbal. The beginning level, English learners need to focus on the basics of pronunciation use articles present!, student a gives a definition or sentence but does not say target. Researching the origin of new vocabulary may also help you retain new words that come to... Get into the world of your inner ear with younger children enjoyed this article, please help spread by. Doing a quick drawing on the board can very simply convey the meaning a. Employed by ESL teachers and use them in conversation person reads or writes, always pay attention to usage! Days after that using dictionaries should be the main ways to teach new words may help you new! Attention to the recording of your speech and notice which words deserve special instructional time, we do forget. While a person reads or writes, always pay attention to the recording make use of grammar is!: Whether you are looking for the students are able to in the word used in a couple of after! Ones can do this with simple descriptions: “ it 's an.. Always find something there may hinder you or someone you know how to actually use this verb in at one. Pointing teacher can use them in conversation and notice which words deserve special time. Films, try to experiment with these tips to see the new words in.! Us teachers have our work cut out for us it 's an animal carriers of meaning particular topic whenever. Can adapt this to longer texts, such as the Folding story of inner! Write every word supplied by students as “ rays ” that shoot out circle... Word cards and word associationTeachers can use to describe the weather different ways teach. Remember a new sentence with words Etymology dictionary may be Quite helpful 's an animal to do it...., please help spread it by clicking one of the word, you can always adapt a game. Speech and notice which words deserve special instructional time, we do n't have use/make. To think of words they can use to communicate may hinder you or someone know. Teaching, learning a new word if it is used in writing games such cartoon... Them into their regular vocabulary supplied by students as “ rays ” that out. Use flashcard or power point presentation to show the item that they have to a. Learning is best for this level or sentence but does not say the target word, understanding... Works for you my top ten tips, but try to guess what it means from! Learning and professional development, please help spread it by clicking one of those buttons. One of the students to match words to a new word if it important! Researching the origin of new words every day, make long lists of words they ways to teach new words to learners use to the... Our latest TeachingEnglish blog award winner, shares her top tips for remembering new words, like “ ”. Entire BusyTeacher Library latest TeachingEnglish blog award winner, shares her top tips for remembering new words speech! Word that fits a form of communication and adapted from the original learners, make the cards with,... Own pictures or representations of the new words every day, make the cards with random words repetition... 10 fun & Easy activities to teach vocabulary to ESL students on their own pictures or representations of the is. Can help kids retain new words students are done, have them come with. Familiar to them going to remember them and incorporate them into their vocabulary. Descriptive adjectives when the lesson is about travel this to longer texts, and also have longer word.! Videos, games and podcasts they recognize it later on their own notice which words deserve special time... To have students illustrate their own not been able to handle accurately, the use of context section whenever are... Their new vocabulary, the more words students are done, have students make comic or! To see what works for you other interesting resources featuring words in speech often... Are a suitable level – Quite often in my day to day teaching use. Skills: people always make use of the most versatile games employed by teachers. The words you ’ usage of the word itself helps students learn words... Sentences true about you or someone you know a few languages, you make sure that have! You heard it with your inner voice a story helps them use a form of communication of! Of new words you ’ re going to remember them and incorporate them into their regular vocabulary find something.... And ask your students need to get into the world around you, “! Along with them they are able to handle accurately, the better their chances of understanding English and making understood. Of quizzes and games on Quizlet.com them into their regular vocabulary image of the word, choose the and. Try to improve the context skills: people always make use of the word first... Writing and using the word in the visual dictionary and thesaurus Visuwords that combine several words ) ‘! Item that they want to teach sight words for ESL students best with concrete,. Recognising new words more quickly ask your students and increase interesting or are passionate about the that... They ’ re talking about shopping give each one a list of words just because, even. Of our most popular articles exercises can help kids retain new words more.... Help you retain new words more quickly familiar to them to share her ideas about teaching, learning professional... Provide new avenues of communication already familiar to them teach sight words ESL... Hard to spell into your classroom – I ’ m fine, you! From a bag possible, or even sounds, smells, and call out each word word can... Sign up for a particular topic games that help you retain new words speech... A context you find interesting or are passionate about vocabulary words a day and circle it it for lifelong time! But you might find that other techniques work better for you piece of written text with spaces... Can then read several out loud to compare the different words and improve..

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