Learn to Teach Vocabulary in Under 5 Minutes

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to teaching vocabulary in a language classroom. It focuses on strategies like eliciting words using nonverbal cues, minimizing teacher talk time (TTT), and emphasizing the correct part of speech. Key steps include drilling pronunciation, using concept check questions (CCQs) to assess understanding, and employing trailing to help students recall words. The approach encourages active student involvement while minimizing the need for long explanations, ensuring effective vocabulary acquisition and retention.

Takeaways

• 😀 Elicit vocabulary from scratch without writing the word on the board initially, using nonverbal methods and context to convey meaning.
• 😀 Keep Teacher Talk Time (TTT) low, using as little language as possible to avoid overwhelming or confusing students.
• 😀 When students struggle with a word, use 'trailing' to help them recall it by providing a few letters or sounds. Do this quickly and efficiently.
• 😀 Always write the word on the board in the correct part of speech, distinguishing between verb, noun, adjective, etc., for clarity.
• 😀 Color-coordinate words when writing them on the board to visually highlight parts of speech and make them stand out.
• 😀 Drill pronunciation by having students repeat after you, but be mindful of errors and correct them promptly.
• 😀 Don't just go through the motions when drilling. Actively listen to students’ pronunciation and provide immediate corrections.
• 😀 Use Concept Check Questions (CCQs) instead of simply asking if students understand, as they encourage deeper comprehension of the word's meaning.
• 😀 Ask at least three different CCQs for each word to fully check student understanding and clarify its meaning in different contexts.
• 😀 When asking CCQs, focus on practical, context-based questions such as synonyms, antonyms, and real-world applications of the word.
• 😀 Remember, the goal is to efficiently convey the word's meaning while keeping the lesson interactive and engaging for students.