Try These 7 Best Ways to Introduce New Vocabulary
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1
Picture It
Use pictures of new vocabulary words to introduce them to your students. You may choose to use flash cards, magazine images, online pictures, picture dictionaries or photographs when helping your students picture new words.
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2
Keep it Real
Using real objects to introduce new vocabulary will aid your students in remembering the new words. It will also give your kinesthetic learners a chance to make a physical connection with a lexical concept. Show your class an object, say the word, write it on the board, and then pass the object around and have each of your students say the word out loud.
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3
Tell It Like It Is
Before introducing a new vocabulary word, describe the scene which in which it would be used. Then, rephrase the scene using the new vocabulary word. For example, ‘I ate too much food. I overate’. This will help build connections between English words and teach synonyms without even trying!
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4
Sing It Loud
Make up original songs to introduce new vocabulary. It will not only aid certain learning types, but it will also bring an element of fun into your classroom. Simply use a simple, familiar tune (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Wheels on the Bus, Happy Birthday, etc.) and make up your own lyrics using the vocabulary you are teaching your students.
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5
Introduce Couples
Try teaching pairs of words at one time. Antonyms are the perfect material for this type of vocabulary instruction. You can also pair synonyms, homonyms or any other sets of words that have some connection.
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6
Get Physical
Use Total Physical Response, the ESL technique that links a physical movement to English words. Illustrate new words through action as you introduce the word to your students, and then have them repeat the words and the actions that go along with them.
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7
The Root of the Issue
Teaching word roots as you introduce new vocabulary has many benefits for your ESL students. It gives them tools for understanding new vocabulary they have yet to encounter, helps them see the relationships between words, and can even help them make links between their native language and English.
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