Improving English vocabulary teaching in a Chinese university environment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25170/ijelt.v6i1.1549Keywords:
English vocabulary teaching, cost-benefit teaching syllabus, pedagogyAbstract
Vocabulary-focusing idea in L2 language acquisition has long been proposed by researchers all over the world, while English vocabulary teaching in Chinese university still remains de-emphasized, especially when compared to the elaborate grammar instruction. Based on the scientific attitude towards vocabulary teaching, the outlines of some principles that should be considered while developing a vocabulary component in a language course under a Chinese university environment are suggested including how to choose appropriate vocabulary-improving materials and how to design a recycling teaching syllabus. Discussing from the pragmatic perspective, the combination of ‘book flood’ program’ together with intensively vocabulary teaching would probably work for Chinese college students.
References
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Elley, W.B. (1991). Acquiring literacy in a second language: The effect of book-based programs. Language Learning, 41(3), 375-411.
Goulden, R., Nation, P., & Read, J. (1990). How large can a receptive vocabulary be? Applied Linguistics, 11, 341-363.
Hatch, E., & Brown, C. (1995). Vocabulary, semantics, and language education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hulstijn, J.H. (1993). ‘When do foreign-language readers look up the meaning of unfamiliar words?’ The influence of task and learners variables. Modern Language Journal, 77, 139-147.
Hulstijn, J.H., Hollander, M., & Greidanus, T. (1996). Incidental vocabulary learning by advanced foreign language students: The influence of marginal glosses, dictionary use, and reoccurrence of unknown words. Modern Language Journal, 80(3), 327-339.
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Laufer, B. (1989). What percentage of text-lexis is essential for comprehension? In C. Laurén & M. Nordmann (Eds.), Special language: From humans to thinking machines. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
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Nation, I.S.P. (1990). Teaching and learning vocabulary. New York: Newbury House.
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Nation, P., & Waring, R. (1997). Vocabulary size, text coverage and word lists. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy, (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 6-19). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nation, I.S.P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nation, P., & Gu, Y. (2007). Focus on vocabulary. Sydney: NCELR.
Nagy, W.E. (1997). On the role of context in the first- and second-language vocabulary learning. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 64-83). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nisbet, L.D., & Tindall, R. E. (2005). Language learning strategies and English proficiency of Chinese university students. Foreign Language Annuals, 38(1), 100-107.
Oxford, R. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Boston: Newbury House.
Park, G.P. (1997). Language learning strategies and English proficiency in Korean university students. Foreign language annuals, 30(2), 211-221.
Resnick, L.B. (1989). Knowing, learning, and instruction. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Russell, P. (1979). The brain book. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Swan, M. (1997). The influence of the mother tongue on second language vocabulary acquisition and use. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 156-180). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In N. Schmitt & McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 199-227). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Scholfield, P. (1997). Vocabulary reference works in foreign language learning. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy, (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 279-302). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tekmen, F., & Daloglu, A. (2006). An investigation of incidental vocabulary acquisition in relation to learner proficiency level and word frequency. Foreign Language Annuals, 39(2), 220-244.
Thornbury, S. (2002). How to teach vocabulary. Harlow: Longman.
Webb, S. (2007). The effects of repetition on vocabulary knowledge. Applied Linguistics, 28(1), 46-65.
Webster’s third new international dictionary. (1963). Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Co.
The guideline of the National University Entrance Examination.
(2006). China Education Bureau. available at http://yfetr.edugd.cn/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=247.
Elley, W.B. (1991). Acquiring literacy in a second language: The effect of book-based programs. Language Learning, 41(3), 375-411.
Goulden, R., Nation, P., & Read, J. (1990). How large can a receptive vocabulary be? Applied Linguistics, 11, 341-363.
Hatch, E., & Brown, C. (1995). Vocabulary, semantics, and language education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hulstijn, J.H. (1993). ‘When do foreign-language readers look up the meaning of unfamiliar words?’ The influence of task and learners variables. Modern Language Journal, 77, 139-147.
Hulstijn, J.H., Hollander, M., & Greidanus, T. (1996). Incidental vocabulary learning by advanced foreign language students: The influence of marginal glosses, dictionary use, and reoccurrence of unknown words. Modern Language Journal, 80(3), 327-339.
Kellerman, E. (1986). An eye for an eye: Crosslinguistic constraints on the development of the L2 lexicon. In E. Kellerman & M. Sharwood Smith (Eds.), Crosslinguistic Influence in Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Laufer, B. (1989). What percentage of text-lexis is essential for comprehension? In C. Laurén & M. Nordmann (Eds.), Special language: From humans to thinking machines. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Lewis, M. (2000). Teaching collocation. Hove: Language Teaching Publications.
McCarthy, M. (1990). Vocabulary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nation, I.S.P. (1990). Teaching and learning vocabulary. New York: Newbury House.
Nation, I.S.P. (1995). The word on words: An interview with Paul Nation. Interviewed by N. Schmitt. The Language Teacher, 19(2), 5-7.
Nation, P., & Waring, R. (1997). Vocabulary size, text coverage and word lists. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy, (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 6-19). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nation, I.S.P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nation, P., & Gu, Y. (2007). Focus on vocabulary. Sydney: NCELR.
Nagy, W.E. (1997). On the role of context in the first- and second-language vocabulary learning. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 64-83). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nisbet, L.D., & Tindall, R. E. (2005). Language learning strategies and English proficiency of Chinese university students. Foreign Language Annuals, 38(1), 100-107.
Oxford, R. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Boston: Newbury House.
Park, G.P. (1997). Language learning strategies and English proficiency in Korean university students. Foreign language annuals, 30(2), 211-221.
Resnick, L.B. (1989). Knowing, learning, and instruction. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Russell, P. (1979). The brain book. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Swan, M. (1997). The influence of the mother tongue on second language vocabulary acquisition and use. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 156-180). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In N. Schmitt & McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 199-227). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Scholfield, P. (1997). Vocabulary reference works in foreign language learning. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy, (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy (pp. 279-302). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tekmen, F., & Daloglu, A. (2006). An investigation of incidental vocabulary acquisition in relation to learner proficiency level and word frequency. Foreign Language Annuals, 39(2), 220-244.
Thornbury, S. (2002). How to teach vocabulary. Harlow: Longman.
Webb, S. (2007). The effects of repetition on vocabulary knowledge. Applied Linguistics, 28(1), 46-65.
Webster’s third new international dictionary. (1963). Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Co.
The guideline of the National University Entrance Examination.
(2006). China Education Bureau. available at http://yfetr.edugd.cn/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=247.
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2010-05-31
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