changes in vocabulary teaching

Starting from this semester, I have used a different strategy to teach vocabulary.

In the past, while I expected students to preview the new words on their own, I didn't use any strategies to guide them. When I began my lessons this year, I was determined to train my students to form a habit of previewing vocabulary by looking up the new words in the dictionary or other reference books. Of course, the training took some time and needed a step-by-step plan.


Step One: instructing students the important elements related to a word

Step Two: teaching them what to look for in an entry in the dictionary

Step Three: demonstrating on the blackboard how to take notes in their notebook

Step Four: Having them share their findings about a new word from the dictionary

Besides, I create chances for students to use their dictionary in class, too. For example, instead of asking me the meaning of a new word in a test, they should find it in the dictionary on their own. There are also online learning activities in my class, so online dictionaries are introduced to them.

After three units' practice, most of the students do pretty well in previewing their vocabulary. I don't check their notebook unit by unit, but from their efforts, I know they are not doing the work for grades. So, in general, I am pleased by the result of the implementation.