7 Best Ways to Review Vocabulary

7 Best Ways to Review Vocabulary

Susan Verner
by Susan Verner 123,224 views


Try These 7 Best Ways to Review Vocabulary

  1. 1

    Weave a Web

    Use an idea web to review any themed vocabulary your students have studied. Start with your theme in the center of the board (e.g. sports, school, etc.). Then add spokes off that topic for each word your students offer (e.g. soccer, baseball, etc.). You may even want to add spokes off those words for further related vocabulary (e.g. goal, goalie, score, etc.).

  2. 2

    Put Your Cards on the Table

    Have students create their own set of vocabulary flash cards. Using a metal ring and small cards or cardstock, students write each vocabulary word with its definition on a card. Then, they punch a hole in the corner of their card and attach it to their ring. Students can carry these convenient sets of words with them and review them in any free moment they have.

  3. 3

    Join the Chorus

    Have your students respond to questions or repeat what you say in chorus. First, give them the correct pronunciation of a word and then listen as everyone repeats it in unison. Then ask a question and see if your class can answer it together.

  4. 4

    Fill Everyone In

    Fill in the blank activities are a classic and effective way of teaching and reviewing vocabulary. Give your students independent sentences, paragraphs or phrases with key vocabulary omitted and have them fill in the blanks. You can also have your students write their own fill in the blank activities for their classmates.

  5. 5

    Get Your Point Across

    Use an original crossword puzzle to review vocabulary with your students. Clues can be word definitions, fill in the blank sentences, synonyms or antonyms. Then, students fill in the puzzle with the target vocabulary words.

  6. 6

    Get Together

    Pair work can be a great means of vocabulary review for your students. Have one person read a sentence or definition and quiz his partner. Then have students switch roles. As students play the role of teacher, they will also be learning themselves.

  7. 7

    Keeping Order

    To review a conversational pattern which includes new vocabulary, give groups of students a list of the phrases that should be used in the dialogue. Students must then put those phrases in the correct order so that the conversation makes sense. If you like, have students copy the correct conversation into their vocabulary notebooks.

P.S. If you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one of those sharing buttons below. And if you are interested in more, you should follow our Facebook page where we share more about creative, non-boring ways to teach English.

Like us!
Related Categories








Entire BusyTeacher Library
Get the Entire BusyTeacher Library:
Dramatically Improve the Way You Teach
Save hours of lesson preparation time with the Entire BusyTeacher Library. Includes the best of BusyTeacher: all 80 of our PDF e-books. That's 4,036 pages filled with thousands of practical activities and tips that you can start using today. 30-day money back guarantee.
Learn more

Popular articles like this

9 Absolutely Essential ESL Games for Vocabulary Review

0 504,680 0

3 Keys to Learning
What Every Vocabulary Unit Needs

0 11,006 0

Opposites Attract
Having Fun with Antonyms

0 166,529 0

17 Great Ways to Use Pelmanism in Your ESL Class

0 38,314 0

Mind the Gap! 10 Fun Fill in the Blanks Activities for Any ESL Class

0 100,502 0

What You Can Do With Index Cards
10 Amazing Activities

0 205,622 0