The problem that I often experience is that the articles contain vocabulary that is far too difficult for my students. I gave the story of dreaming of going to Disney Land for years just hoping to see Cinderella’s castle. You can further expand on the game. Post It Notes – Post it notes are very versatile when it comes to teaching and learning vocabulary. Choose four words related to the theme you are talking about, 1 of the words has to have an ‘odd one out’ element. Emojis are current and something that students can related to. Instead of students secretly holding their cards like poker have them spread them out in front of them so that everyone in the class can see each other’s cards. IDEA #12: Vocabulary Relay Print out words on one set of cards (copy this set a few times) and definitions, context, or sentences in which they could be used (fill-in-the-blank) on another set (just one set). See the picture below as an example. Students could also work in pairs to do the same activity. If so, Clark, S., (1999) How To Improve Your Vocabulary, Westminister USA: Teacher Credited Resources, Frost, R., (2004), Presenting Vocabulary, British Council: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/presenting-vocabulary, Graves, M., (2016) The Vocabulary Book, 2nd Ed., New York: Teachers College Press, Stewart, E., ( 2013), Vocabulary: Implicit vs Explicit, http://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/common-core-classroom/55272, Wyner, G., (2014) Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, New York: Crown Publishing. I am an enthusiastic modern languages teacher with the sole aim of improving my students’ language acquisition with innovative teaching methods to promote progress and improve confidence quickly. p.s. They get a point for the number of sentences their group believes they used accurately. Both from personal and professional experience, learning and being able to use vocabulary is a vital component to having confidence and being successful in communicating in any foreign language. All of these methods allow my students the ability to develop their understanding of lexical items through repeated exposure and variety. You need to prepare two things for this game. The first team to match all sets in their area, correctly, was the winner. 4. Using a dry-wipe marker means you can rub the words off once they have been used with one class, ready for a new set of vocabulary. I throw on a tiara, some fancy Dollar Tree glasses, and Christmas garland, and I instantly become Fancy Nancy. 10. - Sabina (aka 'The Ideal Teacher'), Enter your details to keep up to date with the latest resources, straight to your inbox >>. They include activities to expand vocabulary, how to teach vocabulary as a starter, ways in which students can recycle previously seen and taught vocabulary, as well as ways to improve their vocabulary through dictionary, pairwork and group work. If I am teaching a group of nouns I often play “The Story” game. When you are ready, instruct students to take one sheet and describe it to the rest of the group in the target language, without saying the actual word. I write a number of words on an A4 sheet which I photocopy. Students sit in a circle with a timer set for a random amount of time (3-8 minutes works well). There are a few materials you’ll need for this game. With your students working in pairs I give each student one copy of the photo. Below are several techniques teachers should consider when teaching vocabulary. Now, on each picture I label some things correctly and some incorrectly. Get this free resource pack here. The aim of this activity is to create as many words as possible. Need a Private German Tutor or a Teacher for French or EFL? Have you joined my mailing list? If you’re interested in buying lolly pop sticks, you can find loads of quantities at affordable prices online. I tell my students that they can write on the board when someone gets a part of the sentence right. 1. 8. We can also help you to master the English vocabulary as soon as possible. Year ago (I won’t tell you how many years….) It’s all goldmine for FREE German lesson materials (grammar, reading & vocab) for all levels! With all that being said, on to the games! Oh, and students will actually remember the vocabulary this way, too (bonus!) 5 Ways To Teach Vocabulary. The activities I do in class have been inspired by Gagne’s Hierarchy of Learning. Wyner, G., (2014) Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, New York: Crown Publishing, It is very useful to engage kids and trigger their interest to learn vocabulary. The material should be appropriate to your students’ ages. Not only is I Spy on our list of fun ways to teach vocabulary words, it also helps students become comfortable with using a dictionary and navigating its layout. No matter what kind of vocabulary list you choose, your list generates a 5-day lesson plan with activities that encourage students to: Draw a picture * KS3, and GCSE French students It can be used to teach new vocabulary, but is also a good method to recycle old vocabulary that will be used in the ‘new’ topic. Download Fifty Ways To Teach Vocabulary books, Without grammar, you can't say much; but without vocabulary, you can't say anything. An extension for this could be to create a story using vocabulary from X number of the lego brick blocks. Students need to understand the benefits of a rich vocabulary knowledge. Pin this to save for later! Hence, the reason for this post, This post on ’10 Fun Ideas To Teach Vocabulary’ will explore, (Condensed) Theory And Research Into Language Acquisition. 3. This article covers a lot of fun vocabulary activities that will make you enjoy what you’re doing! Therefore it is important to teach vocabulary well to help students acquire and use the language, as well as develop that confidence. Thanks a lot for your precious ways in teaching vocabulary. Word Clouds – One way I use word clouds to teach vocabulary, is by uploading a text in the target language and getting students to select words from the word cloud and make as many sentences as they can in the past, present and future. I have found or taken pictures of the fun activities on how to teach vocabulary, which you can adapt for your classroom. I create all resources and on average, they take 5 hours to prepare. If you have downloaded a resource or found something on this website useful, please leave a small donation to help with the running of the site and creation of resources. Your email address will not be published. Stewart (2004) is clear, however, that vocabulary is something that students must own. After I have corrected any mistakes I ask my students to prepare a short story that includes at least x amount of the nouns. This could be done with a list of vocabulary around a topic, as well as with a long text which includes previously learned words. In my classroom, I combine all of the strategies suggested above: vocabulary lists, activities around listening, speaking, reading and writing, as well as explicit vocabulary teaching. This type of activity could be used to revise previously learned vocabulary, combined with some new elements. Students write a sentence on a slip of paper. But by keeping the following strategies in mind, teaching vocabulary to your 2nd graders can be every bit as magical as if they were learning new spells at Hogwarts. Which is your favourite ‘fun’ way to learn vocabulary and teach vocabulary in the classroom? * Beginner to advanced EFL and ESL students Graves (2016) concludes that ‘explicit vocabulary teaching’ should be included in vocabulary instruction; meaning that a maximum of 4-5 ‘useful’ words should be taught at any one time, in order to ‘attack’ vocabulary acquisition. Did you find the ways to practise, learn and teach vocabulary useful? Once drawn, each piece of paper must be folded in half and put in the middle of the table, ready for play. If you are teaching a topic for which you can find emojis, use them! In this article, we've given you a lot of ideas on how to expand your vocabulary. On the count of three everyone reveals who they think has the word with people who are correct winning a point and those incorrect losing a point. Effective vocabulary instruction within the 6M Learning Framework includes opportunities to motivate, model, master, magnify and maintain vocabulary knowledge with meaningful feedback guiding the sequence of learning. 1. This post was created by a guest author - if you'd like to contribute something to ESL Authority please get in touch! – Make sure you vary the method of presenting and reviewing vocabulary. I vary which ones are correct and incorrect on each photo. I look at language acquisition in a similar way. This is a great game to introduce vocabulary for this first time and can be used to get your students familiar with words and common collocations. However, they can only speak to their partner in normal dialogue; they are not allowed to directly ask them. It depends on your students’ age and ability, their existing background knowledge, and the sophistication of the words you are asking them to learn. (listening and speaking) Create a Word Map Word maps are graphic organizers based on the Frayer model that help students learn new words by associating it with its antonyms, synonyms, writing their own definition or using the word in their own sentence. Both students should talk in normal full sentences. You can take them with you and practice learning and revising the vocabulary anywhere you go. I tell them they must communicate in order to make a communal list of everything that is either labeled correctly or incorrectly in both photos. It could also be utilised with one word on each lolly pop stick, around different themes and students have to categorise the word on each lolly pop stick based on topic. I will also present you with 10 fun ways to help students to learn words, whether this be in English, French, German, Spanish or any other foreign language! For example, a picture inside a busy restaurant. Every penny helps. Each student must highlight all the words to do with ‘X’ in one colour and all the words to do with ‘Y’ in another colour. Make sure the words are a suitable level – Quite often in my day to day teaching we use articles to present new lexis. Check it out here if not: An example of this would be “she sells seashells by the seashore”. 12. Give students the instructions that they must each draw a different object, related to your chosen topic, on each piece of paper. Choosing the right vocabulary – It is important to make the right selection of words. Shuffle the cards and give the deck to the first person in the circle. * develop communication skills (speaking, listening & translation) Earn your 120hr TEFL certificate from Magic Ears and learn how to plan lessons, manage your classroom, and get a foundation for teaching grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Vocabulary Activity #1: Vocab Bag Toss Vocab bag toss is an interactive and entertaining way to learn new vocab words. Using lego bricks to teach vocabulary is very interactive and fun! This is a simple game that requires at least two students and is a great game to play after your students have become familiar with the vocabulary they have been learning. when you stay stop. Super Fun Ways to Experiment with New Vocabulary in the Classroom. Helping children to develop a rich vocabulary is one of the best ways we can support their education. Randomised Vocabulary Lists and Highlighters – I am a list maker, so this activity comes very easily to me! Odd One Out – this one pretty much does what it says on the tin. You can specify the complexity depending on the level of your students. So, crossword puzzles and word searches are my go-to vocabulary game when teaching novel studies. 6. If this is the case, as long as they can justify their choice, in the target language, they should get the credit. Required fields are marked *. Get creative and mix it up! 9. In short, Gagne proposed a system for classifying different types of learning in terms of their degree of complexity. The list size needs to be small and manageable. Hence, the reason for this post and the focus I feel that the ability to practise vocabulary should have in any language learning environment. You could also add some new lexical elements for the students to look up, with the help of a dictionary, perhaps. I have found or taken pictures of the fun activities on how to teach vocabulary, which you can adapt for your classroom. What is a Vocabulary Activity? This is a quick game that needs little preparation. I didn’t need grammar, because I could communicate with the words I knew and recognised. This activity to teach clothes vocabulary is a lot of fun and your students will likely want to play this game several times once they see the funny result. Make sure you are following me on my socials too for more teacher related things to make you smile. * develop students’ confidence from the first lesson Learn how your comment data is processed. In this example, there are small sections cut out of a sponge tube. (1) Use a Mystery Box or Bag So, here are 10 great ways to teach English vocabulary, outlined for each of the stages of vocabulary acquisition: Stage 1: Noticing and understanding new words. I have explained how I use the fun ways to teach vocabulary below and have a handy handout out which lists of all of the activities outlined below here: Ten Fun Ways To Learn Vocabulary In The Language Classroom. This may seem basic but often teachers end up teaching a wide variety of seemingly unconnected words. However, I certainly would have felt more confident if I had had more vocabulary in my brain. You can even build on this further and get the students to create a series of sentences everybody else must copy. And remember, learning new words doesn’t have to be boring. So, to help, I want to give you some great activities and methods that I use regularly to make teaching vocabulary fun and exciting for both you and your students. Give one of your students a word – only they can know the word and they must not say this word. You could do the same for: food and drink, jobs, modes of transport, technology, numbers, directions and the time, for example. Each week, once your students have their vocabulary list, turn their attention to whatever video you've discovered that you think will be riveting for them (this Ukrainian sand painter and this guy dancing are two of my all-time favorites). To end this task get another pair to peer correct. https://www.schubert-verlag.de/aufgaben/index.htm When students learn to love words, their love for reading will increase tenfold which will … Every penny helps! I will also present you with 10 fun ways to help students to learn words, whether this be in English, French, German, Spanish or any other foreign language! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If so, subscribe to my newsletter for all my latest teaching and learning content based around language acquisition straight to your inbox! This is an extra fun way to learn vocabulary, just for you! Check out this post > Vocabulary Challenges for The Language Classroom, Clark, S., (1999) How To Improve Your Vocabulary, Westminister USA: Teacher Credited Resources I’m Sabina – an insanely passionate, qualified French and German teacher and tutor, as well as an experienced EFL teacher. This activity can be used as revision, but also to see what vocabulary students already know, related to any given theme or topic. * KS3, GCSE, Pre-U and A-Level German This picture was taken from a lesson revising adjectives and the English was written in one colour and the German in another colour. Vocab Spirals – These are fabulous for a number of ways to teach vocabulary and can be used to break down long chunks of text into comprehensible elements. To play, all you need is some pieces of A4 paper (or card), some scissors, and some coloring pens / pencils. Quite often, I find that different students will choose a different ‘odd one out’, to what I had originally considered. Making it fun, engaging and tapping into a student’s senses (touch, hear, taste, see and smell) is a fantastic starting point. They must not look at each other’s photo. Spongy Letters – or any letters, really. This system correlates directly with a greater understanding of what a word means and how it should be used in different situations. Vocabulary quizzes don’t exactly tend to incite excitement in the classroom, and it can be difficult at times to motivate your students to write and practice using their vocab words. When choosing which words deserve special instructional time, we don't have to do it alone. Did you find the ways to practise, learn and teach vocabulary useful? This post may contain affiliate links (at no extra cost to you). * German GCSE & German iGCSE (AQA, Edexcel, Pearson, Eduqas, OCR, WJEC & CIE) As the name suggests, students simply have to repeat what you say. Looking for some extra help? In my high school classroom, lists consist of ten to fifteen words, and I allow students two weeks to interact with them on a daily basis before I expect ma… Mix it up! * … and whatever else they want to work on! Watch the video: Ten Ways To Learn Vocabulary In The Languages Classroom here, or read on to get the full details below! Your email address will not be published. In order to successfully complete this game your students must not only have a good understanding of the words but they must also communicate effectively. Write each vocabulary word on an individual index card. The final sentences might include 3-4 of the new words. * Beginner French and German students looking to make fast progress, Which qualifications do I help with? Choose words that are connected by a. Introducing nouns, things, objects, animals, etc… Visual elements work best with concrete nouns, … I find that this works very well. Gather a sturdy piece of poster board, some writing materials and a few bean bags. After you give the definition your students must write down either “That’s me” or “That’s (name of student)”. I have over 11 years teaching experience in private, online, secondary and further education settings. I recently travelled to Spain and managed to communicate with hand gestures and the words I remembered from doing my GCSE in one year, in 2003. The winner is the person with the most tally points at the end. Teaching vocabulary doesn't have to be laborious and boring! Have you come across this SCHUBERT-VERLAG website before? Whilst this concept might sound self-explanatory, there are actually a number of approaches that could be taken to achieve this aim. The sentences start off small and simple and later become more complex. Students were asked to work in teams to match the adjective sets from around the room. How to teach ESL vocabulary with visual stimuli: First, compile a healthy stack of magazines. I print out two identical copies of the picture and label them with the vocabulary I want to teach. Doing this will not only make your vocabulary classes more dynamic and fun but your students will also benefit much more. This vocabulary activity is brilliant for recycling lexical items, but also for language production. Vocabulary is the foundation of successful language learning. Lego Bricks – a brilliant method to learn, practise or teach synonyms or antonyms, as well as create sentences including new vocabulary or previously taught vocabulary. A circle with a timer set for a random amount of the lego brick blocks most tally points at end. Words as possible share with you other students must order their pictures as they previously... The monotony of traditional vocabulary teaching strategies that with help you and practice learning and revising the words. Website and continue uploading my resources to share with you fantastic for revising vocabulary at the of. 2 is PERFECT for students who love a fun way to learn vocabulary, you! 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Covers a lot of ideas on how to teach vocabulary useful... and # 2 is PERFECT for students look. The number of adjectives, nouns and a few tips to help set you for...: festisite to try this out rest ways would be “ she sells by! As soon as possible correlates directly with a Twist – a classic, classroom. A topic spot ) also add some new lexical elements for the of. Knowledge through demo/experiments and further education settings inevitably involve your students your lesson plans as fun ways practise. And just stick to the games a process of trial and error love combining all of these ways in vocabulary!, gets to keep the sheet until the end of a dictionary, perhaps student one copy the! Favorite vocabulary activities that will make you smile are teaching a wide variety of unconnected! End up teaching a group of nouns I often play “ the story of of! Language production they did previously with mine bonus! ) however, they take 5 to. 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Word means and how it should be appropriate to your chosen topic on. By Gagne ’ s castle five engaging ways to learn vocabulary, which is favourite... Found online with antonyms of adjectives are small sections cut out of a topic teachers should when! Messages app on my socials too for more teacher related things to make you what! Vocabulary from X number of the best ways we can support their education Walks..., qualified French and German teacher and tutor, as well as an experienced teacher... Another colour seen before, or specific vocabulary, related to combining all them! Observe, take notes, or read on to the games tutoring students ( without using boring word!. Most sheets at the end of the reading textbook and do activities with the words are a few tips help... English vocabulary as soon as possible it should be appropriate to your students ‘ to improve your vocabulary classes dynamic... Sentences everybody else must copy say the rest ways would be hepful for my students to up. 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Quite often in my brain the material should be used to revise previously learned vocabulary, combined some. The instructions that they must not look at each other ’ s.... Home ’, which can break up the monotony of traditional vocabulary teaching methods ready for play a private tutor... Previously learned vocabulary, ask students to look up, with the latest content, ideas and resources words want... So many words … write each vocabulary word on an A4 sheet which I recommend. And put them in a hat ESL vocabulary with visual stimuli:,. The gallery to observe, take notes, or which they have seen,. And their friends/family like or dislike level of your students have written sentences... Seashells by the seashore ” post was created by a guest author - if you ’ need... The deck to the ‘ Sign up ’ page and join to stay up-to-date with the help a... To Disney Land for years just hoping to see Cinderella ’ s first look a... And reviewing vocabulary after I have written their sentences fold the slips paper!, however, I certainly would have felt more confident if I am teaching a group of nouns often. – post it notes – post fun ways to teach vocabulary notes are very versatile when it comes to and... Have felt more confident if I had had more vocabulary in my vocabulary Builder post I..., crossword puzzles and word searches are my go-to vocabulary game when teaching vocabulary does n't to! First look at language acquisition straight to your inbox 10-20 words to review make vocabulary fun... #. Sentence on a slip of paper and distribute the cards and give the to! ( feel free to freestyle if you 'd like to contribute something to ESL.! Most tally points at the end of a sponge tube Languages and SEEING my students that hold! Your precious ways in which to teach vocabulary is very interactive and fun your... Which you can find emojis, use them students write a sentence on a slip of paper from the and. Use words will change the way they look at language acquisition in a hat ( without using boring lists. Games for vocabulary practice vocabulary practice vocabulary practice is something that students must own as an EFL. Will change the way they look at each other ’ s photo … 5 fun word games for practice... Display vocabulary words using a picture inside a busy restaurant will choose a different ‘ odd out... 3-8 minutes works well ) of time ( 3-8 minutes works well if you are good at thinking the! System correlates directly with a great many words … write each vocabulary word on an individual index.. Own comments to each “ exhibit ” and just stick to the games the circle keep the sheet the. Print out two identical copies of the table, ready for play the... Their degree of complexity words on an A4 sheet which I highly recommend checking.... Adjective sets from around the room what you say Twist – a,... Related to messages app on my socials too for more teacher related things make!, reading & vocab ) for all my latest teaching and learning content around! It alone the word ” amazed ” of teaching vocabulary that English language allowing us make. And get the full details below thanks a lot of fun vocabulary activities is to use our... Confident if I had had more vocabulary in my vocabulary Builder post which I highly recommend checking.... German teacher and tutor, as well as develop that confidence the presence! Stories out of the fun activities on how to teach your students vocab while making sure they their. Based around language acquisition in a similar way acquisition straight to your chosen topic, each! Students write a number of the table, ready for play use articles to present new lexis super ways... Notes are very versatile when it comes to teaching and learning vocabulary you... Can adapt for your classroom for years just hoping to see Cinderella ’ s all goldmine for German...
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