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Teaching ESL Vocabulary

Most teachers know how to teach vocabulary using pictures and examples. Most ESL students are familiar with word lists. While memorization of word lists has its place in a teaching vocabulary strategy, most researchers agree, vocabulary is learned by making as many links to the vocabulary as possible.

Go beyond the walls of the classroom to incorporate the vocabulary into hands on activities and games, as well as discussions involving both the whole class and small groups about activites in the student's real life. The more different contexts the words can be presented and used, the better the retention.

Here are some tips and pointers for teaching vocabulary:

- Allow students to use the vocabulary in real stories about their life. Making real world connections gives the vocabulary a 100% better chance of leaving the classroom.

- Use games, props and materials to get students so involved, they forget they are learning!

- Allow students to create their own games and materials. This way, the vocabulary and concepts are addressed through the activity, but they are also utilized in the making of them, adding one more link to increase vocabulary and concept usage.