Face the facts!

It is important to realize that

you are the one responsible

for learning the vocabulary.

You will save much time and frustration

by discovering precisely how you learn vocabulary

most speedily and securely.

Your goal should be a deep-processing of words.

Deep-processing implies that these words

become part of you,

almost as your native language is part of you.

©Saint Louis University:  Claude Pavur 1997 - 2009

Words are the tools we use to think,

to express ideas and feeling, and to learn about the world.

Words are the foundation of learning.

Student word knowledge is directly liked with

academic accomplishment,

because

an important vocabulary knowledge

is

essential to successful reading comprehension.

Never forget !

 “Without grammar,
very little can be conveyed (= understood ).

Without vocabulary,
nothing can be conveyed” (Wilkins 1972:111).

“Vocabulary is central to language

and of critical importance
to the typical language learner”

(Zimmerman 1975).

Lack of vocabulary knowledge
will result in
lack of meaningful communication.

How to learn vocabulary

You can’t possibly learn all new words.

1.

How to make your choice?

Here are some suggestions:

·         learn the words that are important to the subjects
  you are studying

·         learn the words that you read or hear again and again

·         learn the words that you know you will often want
 to use yourself

·         do not learn words that are rare or not useful
 (your teacher can help you with this)

2.

How to learn them ?

Here are a few ideas:

·         write the words in a notebook
(with their translations or definitions)

·         write the words and definitions on small cards

·         say the words many times
(if you have an electronic dictionary you can hear

       how the word is pronounced)

·         put the words into different groups
(you could use a graphic organizer)

·         write them in a file for use with a computer program

·         make associations (in pictures or with other words)

·         ask someone to test you

                 ·         use the words in your own speaking or writing

3.

But there are other things you need to find out

before you can say

that you know a word like a native speaker does.

For example, you have to learn:

·         how it is spelled

·         how it is pronounced

·         how it is inflected
(i.e. how it changes if it is a verb, noun or adjective)

·         other grammar information about it

·         how it collocates
(i.e. what other words are often used with it)
 if it has a particular style or register