Vocabulary

Vocabulary is commonly defined as "all the words known and used by a particular person". Knowing a word, however, is not as simple as simply being able to recognize or use it. There are several aspects of word knowledge which are used to measure word knowledge.

Vocabulary
Broadly there are two kinds of words:

Content words Structural words/ Function words.

Content words
A word that conveys information in a text or speech act. Also known as a lexical word. Content words--which include nouns, lexical verbs, adjectives, and adverbs--belong to open classes of words: that is, new members are readily added.

The italicized words in Hedberg's sentence are content words.

Function words
A word that expresses a grammatical or structural relationship with other words in a sentence. In contrast to a content word, a function word has little or no meaningful content. Function words are also known as grammatical

Adapted from Teach Yourself Linguistics by Jean Aitchison (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

Objectives of teaching Vocabulary

1. Pronounce each word correctly. 2. Apply pronunciation rules. 3. Spell each word correctly. 4. Apply spelling rules.

5. Give the meaning of a word in English and in Arabic.

6. Give the opposite of a word. 7. Give all the words that share the same meaning. 8. Group related words together.

9. Give the part of speech of each word.

10. Give the preposition the follows certain verbs. 11. Give the verb that is used with a particular noun. 12. Recognize phrases that are idioms and those that are not.

13. Identify the word that is different in a group of words.

14. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition. 15. Fill in the blanks with the correct verb. 16. Give the plural form of a noun.

17. Give the singular form of a noun.

Types of Vocabulary
There are two types of vocabulary. They are Active Vocabulary Passive Vocabulary

Active Vocabulary
The words readily used by an individual when speaking and writing. Active vocabulary is in contrast with passive vocabulary.

Passive Vocabulary
Words that an individual recognizes but rarely uses when speaking and writing. Passive vocabulary is in contrast with active vocabulary.

Techniques of teaching Vocabulary

Listening Carefully Careful listening to the words may be a good option in teaching vocabulary items in a heterogenic classroom. "Let the students hear the word in isolation and in a sentence. If the sounds of the word have been mastered, the students will hear it correctly with two or three repetitions." (Robert Lado: 121) Slow pronunciation

Techniques of teaching Vocabulary

Pronouncing the Word
Pronouncing the word enables the students to remember it longer and identify it more readily when they hear or see it.

Techniques of teaching Vocabulary

Methods of Grasping the Meaning The teacher should try to get the meaning to the class without using translation. This is not preferable on the ground that translation may or may not provide the meaning of the word accurately and precisely. It is advocated as it enables the class to go without grasping the meaning of a word that they have learned to pronounce rather than to depend upon the translation.

Techniques of teaching Vocabulary

Passive vocabulary Showing objects. By procuring pictures, maps, charts. Actions, performances can be shown. Drawing of figures, sketching By illustrative use of a word in easy sentences. By explaining in easy language. Word building games. Prescribing a dictionary.

Techniques of expanding Vocabulary

Vocabulary note

book. Word games should be encouraged. Through reading and dictionary.

Grammar
The systematic study and

description of a language.
A set of rules and examples

dealing with the syntax and word structures (morphology) of a language. Adjective: grammatical.

Approaches of teaching Grammar

Deductive Approach Inductive Approach Inducto-Deductive Approach

Deductive Approach
It contains definitions, rules, examples and exercises. Rule Examples

Pupils commit these rules to memory.

Deductive Approach
Teacher tells a defintion or a rule. Rule: A verb is word used to express an action or state.

Teacher gives examples of verb.

Inductive Approach
The child learns grammar incidentally. This is called functional grammar. Examples Rule

By giving many examples students arrive at the rule.

Inductive Approach
Examples:

Students arrive at the Rule A verb is word used to express an action or state.

Inducto-Deductive Approach
It combines both inductive and deductive approach. Examples Rule Examples

The approach is best suited for teaching functional grammar.

Inducto-Deductive Approach
Examples:

Rule : A verb is word used to express an action or state. Example:

Objectives of functional grammar

1. It helps to use the language effectively. 2. Knowledge of the underlying rules of grammar is provided. 3. To develop students insight into the structure of English language. 4. To enable the students to assimilate the correct patterns of the language. 5. To teach grammar as a rule governed behaviour. 6. To develop the mental abilities of reasoning and correct observation. 7. To develop a scientific attitude in pupils