Common Vocabulary Problems 1. “My students can’t remember all the vocabulary” 2. “My students think learning vocabulary is boring” 3. “My students don’t like to speak English” 4. “We don’t have enough time to review”

1. My students can’t remember all the words.

Forgetting curve - short term memory

LEARNING FACT Research shows: 80% of what we forget is lost 24 hours after learning!

Why do students forget vocabulary? Students don't understand the word(s) fully. Students don't get enough time to use & practice the vocabulary. Students don't record & store the vocabulary well.

Research on vocabulary Past research suggested that it took or more meetings with a word before students are likely to remember a word. hear say see write

Research on vocabulary Recent research suggests it takes 20-50 meetings! hear say see write

= Review Techniques How does GFI help Ss to remember vocabulary? Page to page Lesson A > Lesson B Self-check Unit to unit Review units Word list = Vocabulary is recycled in GFI

A ______ is worth a thousand words. Vocabulary and Pictures A ______ is worth a thousand words. A picture is worth a thousand words.

GFI Units introduce new vocabulary with bright, colourful pictures to uncover new vocabulary in a motivating way!

Presenting Vocabulary Exercise 1a introduces 6-8 vocabulary items. 1. Meaning 2. Recognize spelling ( read ) & pronunciation ( listen ) 3. Produce spelling ( write ) & pronunciation ( speak ) 4. Use in sentences hear speak read write

Using pictures 1. T asks whole class questions about the picture. Traditional method 1. T asks whole class questions about the picture. 2. Students answer

Using pictures Communicative method 1. T writes Qs. on board. 2. Ss open books & discuss in pairs. 3. T chooses individual Ss to answer questions.

Teaching Tips for Pictures Using pictures in a CLT way allows for: Schema Activation Personalization Eliciting of vocabulary - (Ask Qs.) Brainstorming of vocabulary Prediction Discussion – pairs/groups Pre-teaching of vocabulary - (Vocabulary match-ups) Creating interest in the topic!

Teaching Tips for Pictures 1. Where are they? 2. What is the woman’s job? 3. Who is the man? 4. What is the man doing? 5. Do you often eat in restaurants like this? 6. What kind of food do you like to order? Allowing students choice increases chances of success.

Teaching Tips for Pictures Where…? What…? Why…? Do…? How often…? Who…?

Possible solutions 1. Word lists 2. Mind maps 3. Labelled pictures 4. Personal vocabulary books 5. Flash cards

1. Word Lists

A) Self-test/check () I know. () I don’t know.

How do you say…in English? How do you say…in Chinese? B) Test your partner How do you say…in English? How do you say…in Chinese? Teaching Tip Ideal for warm-up activity Mime for verbs and some nouns Pictionary - Draw pictures Monitor students

Whole class Write down the English / Chinese for… Individually Team competitions

C) Review the list at the beginning / end of class As a class In pairs Silently

D) Use as a Learning Resource Use the list when doing exercises and activities

E) Find the words Students find the words in each unit and circle them.

2. Mind Maps

Word Lists – Book 3, Unit 8. drive shark future off ate pool outdoor else win gift got visitor end happy

Mind maps Comedy Pop Jazz Love Action Comics Classical Magazines Swimming Football Newspapers Badminton

Why is it easier to remember words in “mind maps” compared to “lists?” or

Advantages of Mind maps Word relationships Personalization Both sides of the brain

2. Mind Maps Personality Height outgoing quiet tall short funny serious Describing People Body Hair thin fat long short light heavy straight curly Book 3, Unit 6.

Mind mapping Put them on the classroom wall Put them where they can see it every day

Mind map - Sample

Mind maps - Tips Try to make your mind map simple & easy to understand – avoid having too many groups Use different colours for different groups Use opposites Use pictures Use collocations ( e.g. verb & noun ) Use sub-groups

Common teacher concern “I like the idea of mindmaps, but they take a long time to create. Also some students take a long time to make them, while others finish quite quickly. The ones who finish early have nothing to do while they’re waiting for the others to finish”. Possible solution : Mind maps are ideal for homework. Students can work in their own time and spend as much or as little time on them as they wish. Make sure you check their work and motivate them by awarding them points for creative / effective mindmap!

3. Labelled pictures Label your pictures

4. Personal Vocabulary Books

Teaching Tip - Personal Vocabulary Books Categorise words into: Specific Topic Word Forms Alphabetically Course Book Units

Definitions & examples

5. Flash cards Double sided