2. Best Practices
What does effective, comprehensive vocabulary
instruction look like?
It has identified four key components:
1. Rich and varied language experiences
2. Direct teaching of individual words
3. Independent word-learning strategies
4. Fostering word consciousness
4. Words In Context IncreaseWords In Context Increase
The chances of learnersThe chances of learners
appreciatingappreciating
Their typical environnmentsTheir typical environnments
Their associated collocationsTheir associated collocations
Grammatical structuresGrammatical structures
5. Texts And Their Lexical ChainsTexts And Their Lexical Chains
A snake chain: snake, boa, python,A snake chain: snake, boa, python,
reptilereptile
A hunting chain: hunt, on the loose,A hunting chain: hunt, on the loose,
snakecatcher, dogs, found, discoveredsnakecatcher, dogs, found, discovered
A danger chain: harmless, dangerous,A danger chain: harmless, dangerous,
poisonous, carriers, bacteria, salmonellapoisonous, carriers, bacteria, salmonella
7. How Can Lexical Features BeHow Can Lexical Features Be
Exploited?Exploited?
Ask learners:Ask learners:
-to skim the text-to skim the text
-to attempt a rough summary of its gist-to attempt a rough summary of its gist
-to find long noun phrases or idioms-to find long noun phrases or idioms
-to consult dictionaries-to consult dictionaries
-to find definitions, synonyms in the text-to find definitions, synonyms in the text
-to study and analyse targeted items-to study and analyse targeted items
-to write their own texts with new items-to write their own texts with new items
8. Lexical Features of SpokenLexical Features of Spoken
LanguageLanguage
Discourse MarkersDiscourse Markers
(indicate a change of(indicate a change of
the talk)the talk)
Well, anyway,Well, anyway,
I meanI mean
TagsTags
(qualify what has(qualify what has
been said)been said)
I suppose,I suppose,
actually, really,actually, really,
you know, yeahyou know, yeah
9. Web Of WordsWeb Of Words
The function ofThe function of
participlesparticiples
(softened, opened, refolded)(softened, opened, refolded)
The abstract nounsThe abstract nouns
(womanliness-lipstick, powder;(womanliness-lipstick, powder;
anguish-opened, read,anguish-opened, read,
refolded)refolded)
The sensations in theThe sensations in the
texttext
(the smell of, the look of, the(the smell of, the look of, the
sound of)sound of)
HANDBAGHANDBAG
CONTAINS…CONTAINS…
(LETTERS, LIPSTICK,(LETTERS, LIPSTICK,
POWDER)POWDER)
10. Books And ReadersBooks And Readers
““ I like reading one story because,I like reading one story because,
after the first day, I don’t haveafter the first day, I don’t have
to use the dictionary as much, soto use the dictionary as much, so
it makes reading moreit makes reading more
enjoyable”enjoyable”
11. The Number of Words Used at EachThe Number of Words Used at Each
Level by Graded ReadersLevel by Graded Readers
12. Free ReadingFree Reading
increases the chances of repeatedincreases the chances of repeated
encounters with wordsencounters with words
Narrow ReadingNarrow Reading
is reading about the same topic over the course ofis reading about the same topic over the course of
a number of textsa number of texts
13. The Role of Dictionaries inThe Role of Dictionaries in
Vocabulary LearningVocabulary Learning
When learners are left to study
vocabulary on their own, two common
ways are available to them: to use the
dictionary and to guess.
14. Types of DictionaryTypes of Dictionary
Pronunciation dictionariesPronunciation dictionaries
Bilingual and monolingualBilingual and monolingual
Learner dictionariesLearner dictionaries
Collocation dictionariesCollocation dictionaries
On-line dictionariesOn-line dictionaries
According to meaning categoriesAccording to meaning categories
(thesaurus)(thesaurus)
Alphabetical dictionariesAlphabetical dictionaries
15. Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary andOxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary and
the Longman Learner Activatorthe Longman Learner Activator
Detailed definitions help students choose the correctDetailed definitions help students choose the correct
word and natural, corpus-based examples show words inword and natural, corpus-based examples show words in
typical usagetypical usage
Improved access system makes it easy to find the wordImproved access system makes it easy to find the word
you needyou need
All the collocations and phrases you need to writeAll the collocations and phrases you need to write
correctlycorrectly
Index at the back of the book for easy cross-referencingIndex at the back of the book for easy cross-referencing
Clear key words help to find alternativesClear key words help to find alternatives
Concepts are groupedConcepts are grouped
Simple definitions an examples help to find the right wordSimple definitions an examples help to find the right word
16. Shed (v)Shed (v)
1.1. get rid ofget rid of to get rid of something that you no longer need or want: Theto get rid of something that you no longer need or want: The
company is planning to shed about a quarter of its workforce.company is planning to shed about a quarter of its workforce.
2.2. shed lightshed light
a) to make something easier to understand, by providing new or bettera) to make something easier to understand, by providing new or better
informationinformation
Investigators hope to shed light on what started the fire.Investigators hope to shed light on what started the fire.
b) if something sheds light, it lights the area around it: The lamp shed ab) if something sheds light, it lights the area around it: The lamp shed a
harsh yellow light.harsh yellow light.
3.3. drop/falldrop/fall to drop something or allow it to fall: He strode across theto drop something or allow it to fall: He strode across the
bathroom, shedding wet clothes as he went.bathroom, shedding wet clothes as he went.
4.4. shed bloodshed blood to kill or injure people, especially during a war or a fight:to kill or injure people, especially during a war or a fight:
Too much blood has already been shed in this conflict.Too much blood has already been shed in this conflict.
5.5. shed tearsshed tears especially literary to cry: She had not shed a single tearespecially literary to cry: She had not shed a single tear
during the funeral.during the funeral.
66. water. water if something sheds water, the water flows off its surface, insteadif something sheds water, the water flows off its surface, instead
of sinking into itof sinking into it
17. A Corpus (plural corpora)A Corpus (plural corpora)
- a collection of- a collection of
texts that has beentexts that has been
assembled for theassembled for the
purposes ofpurposes of
language studylanguage study
18. CorporaCorpora
Are the latest addition to the resourcesAre the latest addition to the resources
available for vocabulary inputavailable for vocabulary input
Are particularly useful for providingAre particularly useful for providing
attested examples of language in use,attested examples of language in use,
as well as frequency and collocationas well as frequency and collocation
informationinformation
