Learning Vocabulary
 

I'd like to ask everyone how they are working towards improving their vocabulary (or teaching others vocabulary).

I think that it takes much more than memorization to learn and use vocabulary correctly but it can be quite boring to study.

How do you make it more interesting?

Re: Learning Vocabulary
 

I have students work with new words by making sentences with the new words. Even better if they can make sentences or short stories using several of the new words together.

By making sentences they are strengthening the association of the new words with words they have already learned and can remember. They also get a stronger understanding of the word in use and how to use that new word.

Straight one-to-one memorization is sometimes necessary, but it's a rather weak system in my experience.

Re: Learning Vocabulary
 

I totally agree with that one. I sort of forgot that I used to do that. My old company has books of vocabulary and I used to get my students to try and create stories using all of the words.

The word list alone were pretty dry but making stories was fun.

Also, getting them to ask questions using those words, or getting them to use speficific grammar with each word was something I used to do as well. :)

Re: Learning Vocabulary
 

I have a new activity called the Skit Kit, it's basically that idea, using random vocabulary to make a story --> then dialog --> then played out as a skit by the students.

It certainly could be used with any vocabulary list.

Re: Learning Vocabulary
 

I think it's also important to keep the vocabulary related to a theme. . . it allows a 'free' discussion of a topic that will re-enforce the theme. I did a whole unit on election, vote, elector college, etc. when the elections were in full swing in the U.S. My German students were following the election in the U.S., but didn't have the vocabulary to discuss it.

Given a chance, they took off!! (Of course, this can backfire. My company now has mandatory units on things the students are seldom interested in.)

-Toby