CONTACT | Vocabulary
Teaching vocabulary through deliberate and incidental activities: Integrating AI and online tools for deeper learning
Introduction
Vocabulary learning can occur deliberately or incidentally, but these approaches may differ in purpose, process, and effectiveness. Deliberate learning of second language (L2) vocabulary refers to intentional learning of words, in which learners focus on memorizing or practicing words through activities like flashcards, dictionaries, or word exercises (e.g., Nakata, 2020). On the other hand, incidental learning pertains to…
Prioritizing deliberate reading to maximize SL learners’ vocabulary gain: An example of teaching formulaic language
In the context of second language (SL) acquisition, studies on the benefits of teaching vocabulary through reading have yielded significant outcomes, sparking debates over the most effective methods for vocabulary acquisition. Some studies argue that incidental learning helps SL learners acquire the form-meaning connection, as they are exposed to substantial input through reading and listening (Nation & Webb, 2017). Still,…
Enhancing ESL learners’ productive vocabulary through multimedia solutions
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Abstract
This qualitative embedded case study aims to examine how applying multimedia theories in online courses can enhance vocabulary acquisition, retention, and production among adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners at a non-profit organization in Ontario, Canada. Guided by Mayer’s Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), the…
The application of word meaning expansion for teaching vocabulary
The following essay is a condensed summary of a completed thesis for achieving a degree of Master’s of Art in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
If we imagine language as a living entity framed and supported by structure/grammar and fleshed with words, this organism requires both to function. It is impossible to learn a…
COVID-19 infecting global vocabulary: Implications for EFL/ESL teaching and learning
Abstract
Language is dynamic and keeps changing due to the influence of a number of factors, including global pandemics. COVID-19, commonly known as Coronavirus, has affected not only people’s health around the world but also their vocabulary. Focusing on the English language, one can see that many Corona-related medical words have entered the daily vocabulary of…
The incredible vocabulary machine
*For all footnotes, refer to the PDF version of the article.
Abstract
Vocabulary is the heavy lifting in learning a language. With grammar, little meaning can be conveyed. With vocabulary, anything can, in a pinch, be conveyed. Yet vocabulary has traditionally been neglected: In part for theoretical reasons; in greater part because the obvious process to…
