ELTWeekly Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue#96 | August 29, 2011 | ISSN 0975-3036

Shiny Kochappilly works with the JMJ College for Women, Tenali.

A crucial component of learning a second language is the acquisition of vocabulary. Hence, vocabulary should be placed in the centre of language teaching as it plays an important role in creating understanding of language through what a student hears, sees and reads in the classroom. This article describes various methods which include brainstorming, visual aid, dramatization, and drawing pictures etc. can be incorporated in the teaching of vocabulary in a language classroom. These methods are rather limited, yet this provides some insight for teachers to realize the benefits of using creative activities to teach vocabulary in ESL classroom.

Introduction

In India, certainly, English is used much more for higher order communication than for day-to-day social interaction. However, students entering college are expected to possess enough word knowledge and proficiency in English to cope with the demands arising from having to handle it as a medium of higher learning. Sometimes, the learner needs to go to another state or to other parts of the country for educational or occupational purposes. A student is usually required to take an examination on competitive basis, for entry into a specialist field of study or a job or face an interview. In such cases, the learner has to master English words to communicate and meet the demands of the present day society. For these reasons, it becomes necessary for the language teachers, to teach the core aspects of basic vocabulary such as meaning, spelling and pronunciation which lead to proficiency in English language. Allen (1999) claimed that “experienced teachers of English as a Second Language know very well how important vocabulary is. They know their students must learn thousands of words that speakers and writers of English use.” (more…)