How to Teach Vocabulary - Teacher Trainer reacts to a Vocabulary Lesson

English for Asia

12 Apr 202310:49

Summary

TLDRThe video showcases a language teaching method where an instructor, Laura, uses interactive techniques to teach vocabulary. Instead of just writing words on a board, she engages students by showing images, eliciting responses, and reinforcing the meanings through concept-checking questions (CCQs). Laura emphasizes natural pronunciation, word stress, and personal connections to words, making the learning process more memorable. The method also includes binary questions to confirm understanding and frequent repetition, helping students internalize the vocabulary effectively. This approach is practical for teaching vocabulary in an engaging, systematic way.

Takeaways

🎯 Eliciting vocabulary naturally helps learners engage more deeply with new words.
📝 Instead of simply writing words on a board, use images and questions to present language.
🎶 Using songs as a teaching tool can be effective, especially when pre-teaching key vocabulary.
🗣️ Pronunciation is modeled naturally by the teacher, encouraging students to mimic the correct pronunciation in context.
🔄 Concept Checking Questions (CCQs) are essential for ensuring understanding, especially when using binary or 50-50 options.
🔍 Visual aids, like images and body language, can help reinforce vocabulary meanings and usage.
🔤 Prompting students with the first letter of a word can guide them to the correct answer during elicitation.
🌍 Linking personal experiences to vocabulary helps make language more relatable and memorable for students.
📚 Drilling vocabulary and key phrases naturally solidifies language acquisition.
💡 Consistency in applying teaching techniques, such as CCQs and natural pronunciation modeling, leads to effective language learning.

Q & A

What alternative way of presenting language is being discussed in the video script?
-The alternative way of presenting language involves using images, body language, and elicitation techniques, rather than simply writing words on the board. The teacher asks questions to prompt responses from students and drills vocabulary in a natural way.
How does the teacher use images to elicit vocabulary from students?
-The teacher shows images to the students without naming them, then asks open-ended questions like 'What do you see?' to encourage students to guess the vocabulary. This leads the teacher to narrow down the vocabulary and confirm correct answers.
What is the purpose of concept checking questions (CCQs) in language teaching?
-CCQs are used to check if students have understood the meaning and usage of new vocabulary. They often involve binary or 50-50 questions, making it easier for students to choose the correct answer and reinforcing comprehension.
How does the teacher correct and emphasize proper pronunciation?
-The teacher corrects pronunciation by modeling the word clearly and marking stressed syllables visually, such as using a circle to highlight where the stress should fall. This helps students internalize the correct pronunciation and word stress.
What technique does the teacher use to teach the word 'promise'?
-The teacher starts by eliciting the word 'promise' through hints and then expands on it by introducing related phrases like 'keep a promise' and 'break a promise.' The teacher uses natural pronunciation to model the phrases, making the language sound more authentic.
How does the teacher link vocabulary to personal experience in the lesson?
-The teacher links vocabulary to personal experience by using relatable examples, such as sharing that both she and her husband have matching tattoos. This personal touch helps reinforce the meaning and usage of the vocabulary in a meaningful context.
What role does body language play in eliciting vocabulary during the lesson?
-Body language plays a crucial role in helping students understand and guess the correct vocabulary. For example, the teacher uses gestures to indicate whether the word 'go' refers to going away or coming closer, guiding students to the correct answer.
Why does the teacher use 50-50 questions during vocabulary elicitation?
-The teacher uses 50-50 questions because they provide two clear and opposite options, making it easier for students to understand and choose the correct answer. This method reinforces learning and ensures comprehension.
How does the teacher encourage natural pronunciation during the lesson?
-The teacher encourages natural pronunciation by modeling how native speakers would say words or phrases in connected speech. For example, 'break a promise' is modeled as 'break a promise' with connected sounds, helping students develop more natural language fluency.
What is the overall impact of the teacher's approach on student learning?
-The teacher's approach, which involves elicitation, visual aids, body language, and concept checking questions, helps students internalize language more effectively. The use of natural pronunciation, personal connections, and consistent drilling ensures that students not only learn vocabulary but also understand how to use it fluently in context.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Eliciting Vocabulary Through Visuals and Prompts

In this segment, the instructor uses images to engage students in vocabulary elicitation. Instead of directly writing words on the board, the teacher asks questions about images and encourages students to respond. This interactive approach helps narrow down the meaning of words like 'promise' and 'break.' The teacher also models the correct pronunciation and usage of the words, building on the students' responses to deepen their understanding. Concept checking questions (CCQs) are frequently used to reinforce comprehension, with phrases like 'keep a promise' and 'break a promise' practiced in natural speech.

05:01

🎯 Encouraging Language Use with Guided Prompts

The teacher continues to guide students through vocabulary learning, using body language and prompts to encourage them to guess the word 'go away.' This method helps students refine their pronunciation and word stress, such as distinguishing between 'record' as a verb and a noun. By incorporating real-life examples and personal connections, such as the concept of matching tattoos, the instructor creates a more relatable and emotionally engaging lesson. CCQs and prompts help solidify students’ understanding, and stress patterns are visually represented for clarity.

10:02

📚 The Importance of Systematic Language Teaching

In the final section, the lesson is summarized with a focus on the systematic approach used by the teacher. The instructor’s techniques—eliciting words through images, modeling natural pronunciation, and using binary CCQs—enabled students to internalize vocabulary quickly. The consistency of applying these principles ensures that students retain and understand language effectively. This method of presenting language highlights the simplicity of using effective, repeatable strategies rather than relying on complex methods.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Elicitation

Elicitation is a teaching technique where the teacher prompts students to come up with a specific word or concept on their own, rather than providing it directly. In the video, Lauren uses this method by showing pictures and asking open-ended questions like 'What can you see here?' to guide students toward the target vocabulary, such as 'promise' or 'go away.' This method actively engages students in learning and helps them internalize new words.

💡Concept Checking Questions (CCQ)

Concept Checking Questions are simple questions designed to check whether learners understand a newly introduced concept. These questions are often binary (yes/no or 50/50) and allow teachers to quickly assess comprehension. In the video, Lauren asks, 'If you stay together, do you separate or always stay together?' to ensure the students understand the meaning of 'stay together.' This technique reinforces learning and clarifies any confusion.

💡Pronunciation Modeling

Pronunciation modeling refers to the teacher demonstrating correct pronunciation for students to imitate. In the video, Lauren models the natural pronunciation of phrases like 'break a promise,' linking the words together as they would be spoken naturally in conversation. This helps students improve their fluency and confidence in speaking. She also corrects students' stress patterns, as seen with 'record' vs. 'record.'

💡Pre-teaching Vocabulary

Pre-teaching vocabulary involves introducing specific words to students before they encounter them in a text or listening activity. In the video, Lauren pre-teaches key vocabulary related to a song that the students will later listen to. This prepares students for the upcoming activity by ensuring they understand critical terms like 'promise' and 'tattoo' before they hear them in context.

💡Stress and Intonation

Stress and intonation are important aspects of pronunciation, determining which syllables in words are emphasized. Lauren demonstrates this by visually marking the stressed syllables in words like 'record' and 'tattoo.' This helps students distinguish between words that change meaning based on stress, such as the noun 'record' versus the verb 'record,' improving their overall speaking accuracy.

💡Vocabulary Expansion

Vocabulary expansion refers to building on a newly introduced word by teaching related phrases or uses. In the video, Lauren starts with the word 'promise' and then introduces common phrases like 'keep a promise' and 'break a promise.' By expanding on the core word, she helps students learn how to use it in various contexts, reinforcing their understanding and practical application of the vocabulary.

💡Body Language

Body language is used as a tool to reinforce meaning without relying solely on verbal cues. In the video, Lauren uses gestures, such as pointing away, to help students understand the meaning of 'go away.' This non-verbal cue adds an additional layer of support for students, especially those who may struggle with verbal explanations alone, enhancing their understanding of the word's meaning.

💡Binary Questions

Binary questions are questions with only two possible answers, often used to simplify complex concepts and aid comprehension. Lauren frequently uses this method by asking questions like 'Long time or short time?' when teaching about relationships and commitment. These questions help learners make quick decisions and clarify their understanding in a straightforward manner.

💡Internalization

Internalization is the process by which students deeply learn and remember new language. In the video, Lauren helps students internalize vocabulary by systematically eliciting responses, modeling correct pronunciation, and using visual aids like pictures. The repeated use of words in varied contexts ensures that students not only learn the words but also retain them for future use.

💡Personalization

Personalization involves connecting the lesson content to the students' own experiences or the teacher's experiences. In the video, Lauren shares her personal story of having a matching tattoo with her husband while teaching the word 'matching.' This makes the lesson more engaging and relatable, helping students connect emotionally with the material and remember it more effectively.

Highlights

The teacher avoids the traditional method of writing words on the board and instead introduces vocabulary interactively.

The teacher uses elicitation through images and open-ended questions to engage students in the vocabulary lesson.

Instead of simply telling students the word 'promise,' the teacher guides them to the answer by narrowing in and using gestures.

Key focus on teaching collocations such as 'keep a promise' and 'break a promise,' with clear explanations and examples.

The use of 'concept checking questions' (CCQs) ensures that students understand the new vocabulary and phrases.

The teacher integrates pronunciation practice by modeling the natural connection of words, such as 'break her promise.'

Students are asked to put sentences in different tenses, encouraging a deeper understanding of vocabulary usage.

The teacher elicits the verb 'lose' and uses parallelism (lose something, lose someone) to reinforce learning.

Binary questions (50/50) are frequently used to reinforce understanding, with yes/no or either/or answers.

Teacher provides first-letter cues to help students recall vocabulary (e.g., 'Go... Away').

The importance of marking stress in pronunciation is emphasized with visual aids such as circles to highlight syllables.

Personal stories are integrated into the lesson, such as the teacher sharing that she and her husband have matching tattoos.

The teacher consistently reviews vocabulary with the use of images and connects words through related expressions.

The teacher incorporates words provided by students, building them into the lesson content to enhance engagement.

The method of systematically eliciting language, using natural modeling and short binary questions, proves effective in helping students internalize the vocabulary.