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ADVANCED ENGLISH: It`s All About THE WORDS!!!!

 

Learning a new language is like trying to put together one of those hugely complex jigsaw puzzles. There are literally thousands of pieces when you start, no instructions on which piece to start with, and everything is very confusing. But once you start and put that first piece in place, and then other individual pieces come together and connect with it, you slowly start to form a clear picture in your mind and the new language starts to become understandable.

If you relate language learning to the pieces of a jigsaw, then many of the pieces are made up of grammar, some pieces relate to pronunciation, others to spelling, some to the various skills, but for most students, the majority of the pieces of the jigsaw relate to vocabulary. The more you study, the higher your level and the more piece that there will be in your jigsaw.

No matter the level, vocabulary represents one of the most important skills necessary for learning English. It is the basis for the development of all the other skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking, writing, spelling, and pronunciation. Vocabulary is the main tool for students to use in their attempt to effectively communicate in English.

Helping students to develop a strong  requires more than just having them simply look up words in a dictionary. Rather, students need instruction that will help them acquire new word knowledge and develop strategies to enable them to increase the depth of that knowledge over time.

Tips for Learning Vocabulary in Context.

In this article, I will discuss MEMORY SYSTEMS, something that I have been successfully using with my Advanced English students for 20 years.

A Memory System is basically a student-generated notebook based upon the principles of recording and using vocabulary repetitiously and religiously. With my students, I have them use a standard notebook, NEVER THEIR COMPUTER as I find that they have a better rate of retention when they handwrite everything.

Below, I will explain how it works in two parts, the first part is the recording of the vocabulary, its meaning, and characteristics and the second part will refer to learning through repetition.

PART ONE

In part one, we record all unknown vocabulary along with its characteristics and meaning.

WORD
Investigate

MEANING
To carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of (an incident, allegation, etc.) so as to establish the truth.

WORD TYPE
Verb

VARIATIONS
(Re)(Pre)Investigate(s) (v)
(Re)(Pre)(Well-)Investigated (v)
(Re)(Un)(Pre)Investigating (v)
(Pre)Investigator(s) (n)
(Un)Investigative (adj)
(Un)Investigatory (adj)

SENTENCES (Write 3 sentences using the context outlined in the source)
We heard a strange noise in the night and decided to investigate.
The university decided to investigate the findings as a way to confirm their validity.
We decided to investigate the term of reference regarding the government's decision.

ADVANCED VOCABULARY: Understanding Confusing Pairs.

PART TWO. Activities for learning through repetition.

There are many ways to practice vocabulary repetitiously, below are some suggestions.

1. WRITE MORE SENTENCES: Write at least five sentences using each word in the original, or the various relevant contexts that are appropriate for the word. Writing sentences is a quick and simple activity for reviewing vocabulary repetitiously.

2. WRITE SENTENCES USING THE VARIATIONS OF THE WORD: In addition to writing the sentences for the original version of the word, write 2 or 3 sentences for each of the variations of the word using the original context and the relevant tenses. By doing this, a deeper understanding of the complexities and varieties of the word will be achieved.

3.  WRITE A PARAGRAPH OR ESSAY: If you are studying a specific subject that presents you with several unknown words, after you have added the words to your MEMORY SYSTEM,  write a paragraph, or essay using the words and the subject of the original source. Unlike sentences that are quick and easy to write, a paragraph or essay requires planning and a better understanding of the vocabulary in question. Also, in the case of an essay, you will probably be telling a story, giving instructions, or expressing your opinion, etc about a subject which allows you to delve deeper into the vocabulary and its relevant contexts.

4. MAKE A VIDEO: As in suggestion two, rather than just choosing to just write using the particular words, expand the activity by using your smartphone camera to create a video. Once you have written your paragraph or essay, study them and then record a review, or give your opinion of the subject. This is my favorite activity as it includes reading, writing, and speaking, and that is what I define as repetition!

International Exams and Grammar: The Essential Grammar Rules You Need to Know

5. VISUALIZE: A large percentage of learners are visual. For my students, one option that I always give them is to visualize the word in their heads using the context of the original source. They must draw a simple picture that clarifies the meaning of the word in the original context. This is a method that is extremely successful for learning some of the more difficult vocabularies that some students find difficult to learn through normal methods.

Another option is for students to search Google Images for a photo or diagram that clearly explains the meaning of the word and stick it in their memory system. This won't be as easy as it sounds for many words so the process of searching becomes an intricate part of the visual learning process.

6. GIVE A PRESENTATION: Rather than simply writing a paragraph or essay using the vocabulary, write a presentation and then stand up and give it to your classmates, family, or friends. Due to the public nature of this activity, students generally pay a lot more attention to what they plan to say and how they present it to avoid embarrassment.

7. TEACH IT: Another very successful method for learning vocabulary, if your students are learning in a standard classroom scenario is for them to stand up and teach the new vocabulary to their classmates. Having them prepare PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, etc allows them to develop a deeper understanding of the specific vocabulary.

Well, I hope that this article is of assistance for your teaching/learning of English.

Good luck.

ADVANCED ENGLISH: Choosing Your Words Wisely.

Tips for Achieving a C1/C2 level of Proficiency in English.

The (CEFR) Common European Framework of Reference Explained.



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