Vocabulary Development
Vocabulary development is a process by which people acquire words.
Vocabulary refers to the collection of words that a person knows and uses.
Vocabulary is the knowledge of words and word meanings.
“All the word known and used by a particular person”. Vocabulary building is
a key reading, writing, to verbal expression and in many ways, vocabulary
is key to building analytical and critical thinking.
Components of building Vocabulary
The first component of learning new words is exposure: seeing the new
word enough times to grow familiar with it.
The second component is understanding the definition of the word, as
well as how it is commonly used in context.
Another component of vocabulary building is recognizing synonyms of the
word.
Examples of how the word is used in context can be a helpful component
of learning vocabulary as well.
Finally, students should have plenty of opportunity to practice using the
new word, both orally and in print.
Differences in Early Vocabulary
Development
Children acquire vocabulary indirectly, first by listening when others
speak or read to them, and then by using words to talk to others.
As children begin to read and write, they acquire more words through
understanding what they are reading and then incorporate those words
into their speaking and writing.
• Language rich home with lots of verbal stimulation
• Wide background experiences
• Read to at home and at school
• Read a lot independently
• Early development of word awareness
Cont…
• Speaking/vocabulary not encouraged at home
• Limited experiences outside of home
• Limited exposure to books
• Reluctant reader
• Second language—English language learner
How Vocabulary Affects Reading Development
Vocabulary supports reading development and increases comprehension.
Students with low vocabulary scores tend to have low comprehension and
students with satisfactory or high vocabulary scores tend to have
satisfactory or high comprehension scores.
Incidental Vocabulary Learning
Most students acquire vocabulary incidentally through indirect
exposure to words at home and at school—by listening and talking, by
listening to books read aloud to them, and by reading widely on their
own.
Intentional Vocabulary Learning
Cont…
Intentional Vocabulary Learning
Students need to be explicitly taught methods for intentional vocabulary
learning. According to Michael Graves (2000), effective intentional
vocabulary instruction includes:
• Teaching specific words (rich, robust instruction) to support understanding
of texts containing those words.
• Teaching word-learning strategies that students can use independently.
• Promoting the development of word awarenesss and using word play
activities to motivate and engage students in learning new words.
Research-Supported Vocabulary-Learning Strategies
Student-Friendly Definitions
The meaning of a new word should be explained to students rather
than just providing a dictionary definition for the word—which may be
difficult for students to understand. According to Isabel Beck, a basic
principle should be followed in developing student-friendly explanations or
definitions (Beck et al., 2013):
• Explain the meaning using everyday language—language that is accessible
and meaningful to the student.
• Defining Words Within Context
• Research shows that when words and easy-to-understand explanations are
introduced in context, knowledge of those words increases (Biemiller and
Boote, 2006) and word meanings are better learned (Stahl and Fairbanks,
1986).
Cont…
Sketching the Words
For many students, it is easier to remember a word’s meaning by
making a quick sketch that connects the word to something personally
meaningful to the student. The student applies each target word to a
new, familiar context.
Applying the Target Words
Applying the target words provides another context for learning word
meanings. When students are challenged to apply the target words to
their own experiences, they have another opportunity to understand the
meaning of each word at a personal level. This allows for deep processing
of the meaning of each word.
Cont…
Analyzing Word Parts
The ability to analyze word parts also helps when students are faced
with unknown vocabulary. If students know the meanings of root words
and affixes, they are more likely to understand a word containing these
word parts.
Semantic Mapping
Semantic maps help students develop connections among words and
increase learning of vocabulary words (Baumann et al., 2003; Heimlich
and Pittleman, 1986).
Stages of Vocabulary Acquisition
There are three stages of vocabulary acquisition.
Noticing: the learner notices the new word in a context or with the help of visual clues.
Recognition, first, with help, then, the student’s own.
Production, that is the ability to use the word in appropriate situations.
1 Noticing teachers, are to provide plentiful exposure to the language. Any learner can
say, that, after they paid attention to a new word, they start to come across it in multiple
situations. This way, the word becomes something familiar.
Cont…
2 To help recognition, the following types of activities can be used:
Circle the word you hear. I usually write about 20 words on the board, then ask my
students to circle the words I pronounce. It can be a team game.
Pointing.
Matching.
Total Physical Response activities, when, for example, the teacher gives a
command, and the students obey.
Drawing activities. Today I asked my students to draw fruit I named, then they
compared their drawings. Sorting/categorizing the words.
Multiple choice.
Cont…
To transfer to the production stage, the following activities are of use:
Dictation.
Translation.
Picture description.
Using the word in dialogues.
Answering questions.
Open-ended tasks.
Filling-in the gaps with appropriate words
Types of Vocabulary
Reading Vocabulary:
A person's reading vocabulary is all the words he or she can recognize
when reading. This is the largest type of vocabulary simply because it
includes the other three.
Listening vocabulary:
A person's listening vocabulary is all the words he or she can recognize
when listening to speech. This vocabulary is aided in size by context and
tone of voice.
Writing vocabulary:
A person's writing vocabulary is all the words he or she can employ in
writing.
Speaking vocabulary:
A person's speaking vocabulary is all the words he or she can use in
speech.
How to Improve Vocabulary
By Reading Newspapers, Magazines, Novels, etc
By consulting dictionary
Associating with people who have a good spoken vocabulary and
writing vocabulary
Significance of Vocabulary
The success of an individual in second language is dominated by his/her vocabulary. It
builds up one’s control over the second language and this gives one confidence.
Vocabulary plays significant role in children’s development, predominantly
in reading. It was noticed that children with better vocabularies had better
academic
achievements in general.
In early childhood, young children gain knowledge of vocabulary at the speed of
almost 2,000 to 4,000 new words annually (Brabham & Villaume, 2002
Cont…
In Pakistan, English language occupies a very important position. It possesses the status
of official language, medium of instruction at higher education level.
However, the students at elementary and secondary school level are lagging behind in
language competencies especially in English. These deficiencies are usually rooted in
weak vocabulary growth, and Lewis (2000) has rightly stressed “the single most
important task facing language learners is acquiring a sufficient large vocabulary” (p.
8).
