How to Teach Vocabulary to an ESL Class

Research has it: Adults and adolescents need between 10 and 16 encounters with a new word before they can put it in their long term memories. This has implications for vocabulary practice. Letters, sounds, words, chunks, grammatical structures need to be spread out and built up from noticing, to recognition to production.

From passive to active production

There is a gradual progression in vocabulary learning. Learners usually start by noticing then recognizing a word before they are able to produce it.

There are four stages in the acquisition of new vocabulary:

The learner notices the new word (with help)

The learner learns to recognize it (with help)

The learner recognizes it on his/her own

The learner can both recognize and produce it.

Putting theory into Practice: Ways to make vocabulary learning interesting

Students need to be motivated to learn vocabulary constantly. Therefore, it is important that the review is as interesting as possible in terms of the types of exercises, strategies and activities. The visual element is equally important. Here are some of the activities I tend to use in my EFL classroom. They are, by no means exhaustive.

Stage 1: Noticing the word: the visual element

Flashcards
Pictures
Stage 2: Recognition

True/false
Categorize the words
Matching. (this category is huge with both open and closed types of exercises)Matching the word to its definition, L1-L2, opposites, adjectives and nouns, verbs and adverbs, word to the picture, match two words that go together
Multiple choice
Drawing the word
Bingo games
Circle the word you hear
Stage 3: Production

Dictation
Answering questions
Guessing games: I'm thinking of:
Picture description
Miming
Final Words: Points to consider

Try to have as many success oriented activities that are geared to the age groups you teach.
Gradually progress from one stage to another but vary the activities within each stage.
Consider appealing to the various multiple intelligences. The visual element in learning is particular important - for all age groups but particularly important for younger children.

Further Reading

How much vocabulary does a second language learner need?

1000 most common vocabulary words

**This article was previously published online at: http://www.newteachersupport.suite101.com**
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