Theme-based Vocabulary Building

SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building PREFACE Vocabulary plays an important part in language learning It is an essential ingredient to the richness of any language Many times in the long course of studying a language, learners seem to surrender themselves to the memorization of vocabulary So exhausting and tedious a job it is that many fail and soon abandon what is the materials and foundations for building a good erudition of any language English has a rich and varied vocabulary and learners should be urged to make use of this by introducing some variety into their own speech and writing Good English means having a big vocabulary! However, building vocabulary is a long job! English, particularly, requires learners to master quite an extensive vocabulary pool for understanding daily phrases as well as academic knowledge Hence, learners often find themselves buried under tons of new words Learning these without a good plan is futile Words are better remembered if they go in groups or relate to the same event Therefore, many try to link certain words with certain situations or context With time, surprisingly they find a connection among those words This magical link is called theme and then born the incredible way of learning vocabulary: studying words in themes RATIONALE The variety of English words enables the Englishman to fully express himself in the most appropriate way for every situation he may encounter The delicacy of SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building English language troubles most learners There dozens of words to describe one situation; to remember each one subjectively is painstaking Yet, putting them all in a category with a general definition makes the identification of them much more comfortable and convenient The purpose of theme-based vocabulary building is to increase learners’ knowledge of English words and expressions and so encourage them to extend the range of their own vocabulary The use of thematic contextual passages enables students to learn more in depth into a certain topic This aids students not just in expanding their vocabulary but also that of general knowledge Information and knowledge are presented in concise sections to allow easy understanding and absorption of information Luong The Vinh high school is a school for gifted students Students majoring in English are always have a strong desire for enlarge their vocabulary A test and a set of questionnaire were given to students in Grade 12 to investigate their knowledge and use of vocabulary related to the topic “Education”, which is included in the text book, as well as their motivation and attitude toward the innovation of vocabulary teaching and learning The result indicated that they failed to use the correct words or phrases in the right context and they were all eager for the new approach of teaching and learning Theme-based Vocabulary Building is intended for students majoring in English in Grade 12 at Luong The Vinh High school It is suitable for use in class and for self-study in view to developing as well as reviewing the vocabulary that students have studied in the textbook The students are asked to the exercises individually, in pairs or in groups It is really interesting and helpful for students to put what they have learned into practice in such a way In fact, the students are eager to take part in such activities The benefits gained from this approach are great SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building INNOVATION IMPLEMENTATION Education and Student Life, the theme chosen for the material, is included in the textbook for Grade 12 Since the theme is of such important and necessary in day-to-day life, it is vital that students should acquire a working knowledge of the vocabulary involved in it Education and Student Life was taught to students after they had finished Unit – Higher Education – in their textbook The lesson was due to finish within periods The key vocabulary for the topic has been carefully selected and clear definitions given To make sure that the students are able to use the relevant vocabulary items for the topic as well as understand them, the students are asked to make sentences with them Some notes will be added to some of the definitions by the teacher, to extend the linguistic knowledge and word power of the students The topic contains a passage showing how some of the key vocabulary is actually used The passage not only provides useful linguistic information, but it also provides interesting reading material and could perhaps be used as the basis for model essays A variety of exercises included in the lesson aims to provide the students with words, phrases of the theme, collocation, and some confusing words SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building After completing the exercises, a discussion is to be held so that the students can have opportunities to use the words correctly An essay also takes effect The teacher takes advantage of the essay to evaluate the progress of the students as well as the innovation IMPROVEMENTS Firstly, Theme-based Vocabulary Building assists students in distinguishing similar words As some words can only be used in certain circumstances, good understanding of words makes essays or choices more precise Such understanding also helps students with English multiple-choice test, in which words of similar meanings cause confusion and mistakes Secondly, a theme-based list of words is much easier to learn than one of no similarity That is to say, when words are divided in the same category, students can easily set a good mind frame, expect what to come and comfortably absorb the words, having created links among them Thirdly, far from a short cut to learn new words, theme-based vocabulary studying provides an incredible tool for comparing and contrasting words Many times during a Cambridge C.A.E test or the SAT, students are asked to pick the most suitable word from a theme Normal test-takers will face this task as a burden while students with theme-based vocabulary studying have an upper hand in those questions Already familiarizing themselves with the theme, they can differentiate one word’s usage from another, which enables them to fulfill the task in no time Another advantage of grouping words together is organization By sorting words into lists, students are able to control their study more efficiently SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building Revising vocabulary through themes unloads the burden of exam on students somehow and learning new themes, one or two a week, sounds less discouraging than a schedule to swallow 50-60 words That’s we called psychology Theme-based Vocabulary Building represents a vast resource of vocabulary items including collocations and idiomatic expressions not easily retrievable from a standard dictionary Research has shown that learners need to meet a word at least times before they know it properly Doing exercises, practicing words and expressions that learners have already encountered, is a useful way of helping themselves to fix the vocabulary they are working on in their longterm memory The thematic approach in the expansion of vocabulary and knowledge also benefits students in their preparation for the English examination It helps them better understand comprehension passages and enables them to tackle composition writing more effectively Oral presentation skills will also be enhanced by the expanded range of topics of interest CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATIONS In conclusion, Theme-based Vocabulary Building is a good method for increasing and should be adopted for the above-mentioned advantages However, as this methodology only shows its greatest usefulness when it comes to gaining specialized knowledge, its adoption should be made only by learners of a particular level of proficiency Theme-based vocabulary teaching as an approach will not automatically make learners become more interested in learning English, unless teachers are able to SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building select a suitable theme, use interesting activities and proper materials The theme must be interesting, relevant to learners’ daily lives and close to the topics included in textbooks as well as in the syllabus The content and tasks in the theme should suit the proficiency level, wants and needs of the learners and must be challenging enough APPENDIX Key vocabulary • Academic (a) - connected with education and studying; involving a great deal of reading and studying, rather than practical skills - of a student, interested in and good at studying • Academic (n) :a person who teaches or carries out research at a university or college • Aptitude (n) : a natural ability or skill at something • Aspiration (n) (used in formal contexts) : a strong desire or ambition to achieve something • Bent (n): a natural ability, skill or interest in something • Boarding school: a school where students live as well as study • Career (n): a job or series of jobs in a particular area of work, especially when regarded as a long-term or lifelong occupation, during which you usually gradually get promoted, take on more responsibility and receive more pay • Coeducation (n): a system of education in which students of both sexes are educated together SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building • Coeducational (a) = co-ed (a school which is not a co-ed school is often referred to a single-sex school) • Correspondence course (n): an educational course in which students receive work and tests by post or email from their teachers, and send completed work and tests back to the teachers in the same way • Curriculum (n) : the different courses that are taught in a school or college • Curriculum vitae (= CV) : a statement of a person’s educational qualifications, training and previous employment history • Day-release scheme (n) : a system that allows employees to take certain days off work without loss of pay in order to continue their education or training • Distance learning (n) : a method that involves students working at home, and sending completed work back to teachers by post or email • E-learning (n) : the use of electronic technology, such as computers and the Internet, in education • Entrepreneur (n) : a person who sets up a new business , especially when this involves financial risk, in the hope of making a profit and getting a lot of money • Evening class : a class usually held once a week during a school or college term, in a wide range of subjects which adults can study in the evenings • Extramural course : a course of lectures given at a university or college, intended for people who are not full-time students, and so not included in the usual courses of study available to students • Further education: education for people who are over the school leaving age, usually not at a university and leading to wide range of qualifications • Higher education (n): education provided by universities or colleges, involving studying for a degree or a diploma SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building • Home schooling (n) : the teaching of children at home rather than in school • Learning difficulties (plu N): some kind of mental condition that affects their ability to learn information and skills at the rate that other people of their own age • Nursery education (n) = pre-school education : education for children of pre-school age, in the UK often between the ages of and • Open University: a university which offers degree courses to adult students studying part-time, using correspondence courses and television and radio material; local tutoring sessions and summer schools are also available • Postgraduate (a): connected with academic study after graduation from a university or college • Private school (= public school) : a school where education must be paid for by the student’s parents, not being run or paid for the government • State school: a school provides free education for all local students • Qualification (n): a skill, type of training, etc which you need for a particular job or activity; an exam or course of study which you have taken successfully • Remedial education (n): education especially intended to help people who have difficulty in learning something or in reaching an acceptable standard of literacy • Student exchange scheme (n): an arrangement by which students from two different countries visit each other’s country in order to study at a school or university • Tertiary education : education at university or college level • Undergraduate (n) a student who is taking courses at university in order to get a first degree SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building • Unstructured play (n): play that is not organized in any complete or detailed way and so allows for children to what they want and use their imagination in their play • Vocational training (n) : training aimed at giving you the skills you require for a particular job EXERCISES I Answer these questions State your own reasons for your choice Do you prefer to study a at school b in a library c at home? Do you study best a early in the morning b during the day c at night? Do you prefer to work a with friends b with background music c in silence? II Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in the list There may be more than one possible answer so try to use each verb once only concentrate – – learn – overcome – organize – study – take – teach – review – revise Even the most studious among you will probably have difficulty studying at some stage in your academic career If or when this happens, the only way to (1) - this problem is to go back to basics First, make sure you have a comfortable environment to (2) - in some students need to have a quiet space to themselves and can’t (3) if there are too many distractions Others need some sort of background noise, such as music or the company of friends Whatever your personal preference is, you need to (4) - this first of all Next, make sure you have all of the equipment or tools that you need For example, if you are (5) a geography course and you have to (6) about countries and their capital cities then you will need to have your atlas to hand If you’re (7) your SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh III IV V Theme-based Vocabulary Building math homework then be sure to find your calculator, ruler, protractor and compass before you start Perhaps you’re not preparing a homework assignment or project, but are trying to (8) for an exam If so, you need to know exactly what is on your curriculum You should also (9) - your notes and make sure that you have a clear understanding of what your lecturers have (10) you Of course, people with a learning disorder such as dyslexia may need to work harder than others at their studies as they often struggle to read even relatively simple texts Read the text again and find a word or phrase to match these definitions describes someone who studies a lot things that stop you from working -3 a sound you can hear, but not actively listen to two different types of homework or school task and to study for an exam -6 another word for syllabus to check your work -8 to something with great difficulty Underline the correct words in each sentence I would really like to learn about / study about the ancient Egyptians We need to find out / know where to buy the tickets for the concert I got into trouble at school because I didn’t know / find out my multiplication tables I did well in the test because I had known / learned how to spell all of the words on the list Excuse me, you find out / know where the nearest post office is? It was difficult for me to learn / study at home, because we didn’t have a lot of space I want to learn how / study how to drive a car I think you can only really learn from / learn with experience What you call a person who is a specialist in these subjects? Complete the list Then mark the stress Physics Philosophy Psychology Sociology 10 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh VI Theme-based Vocabulary Building Architecture History Mathematics Chemistry Astronomy 10.Engineering Cross out the verbs which not collocate with ‘exam’ – make – take – sit – get – pass – set – fail – revise – re-sit Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verbs from the list above A: Hi, Jane, I’m so happy I (1) - all my exams I even got grade A in English! B: I didn’t too badly, but I (2) biology That means I’ll have to (3) - it next term A: Oh, no, I’m so sorry You spent ages on biology, didn’t you? What happened? B: Well, I guess I just didn’t (4) hard enough Perhaps I’ll get it next time VII A Use these verbs to complete the text below stay on – apply – get in – – leave When I got to 16, some of my friends (1) school to get jobs, but most (2) I wanted to (3) sociology, but it wasn’t possible at my school, so I (4) - to the local technical college There were over fifty applicants for only twenty places, so I was really pleased when I (5) I really enjoyed the course B Results – college – entry – course – degree – prospectus – diploma – high I had wanted to be a doctor but the (1) requirements to study medicine at university are very (2) and my exam (3) - weren’t good enough, so I got the (4) - from my local (5) to see what alternatives there were In the end, I got onto a (6) in business administration I got a (7) , but I still sometimes wish I’d been able to go to university and get a (8) -11 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building C Reading – presentation – seminar – tutor – lists – lectures – term – notes – handout – options I’ve got two - this morning and then I need to go to the library to some background - before tomorrow On Wednesday I’ve got to give a short - at my English -3 I can’t go to my history lecture on Thursday morning I’ll ask Jeff to pick up an extra copy of the and I can borrow his lecture Professor Barnes is the only lecturer who gives handouts and his reading - really save me a lot of time Later in the week, I’ve got to see my to decide what - I’m going to next D Finals – paper – deadline – dissertation – results – revising – graduation – graduate – coursework – term It’s your last - at university, isn’t it? Yes, I’ve already done my oral, so now I’ve got to submit four pieces of The is next Friday Then I’ve got to a 10,000- word and hand it in by the end of May Then I can relax Hi Susie, I haven’t seen you around much recently No, I’ve been at home - most nights I’ve got my next month I can’t wait until it’s all over Can you believe it, we don’t get our - until the end of July? Overall, the exams weren’t too bad but the American history - was really difficult It’s my ceremony next week I think my parents are looking forward to it more than I am I don’t think they realize being a - doesn’t guarantee you a job like it used to VIII Complete this text about paying for higher education Going to university is expensive First, there’s the tuition (1) Then there are all the books you need Then, if you live away from home, you have to pay for your (2) - The university halls of residence are not cheap Then you have all your other living (3) A few students get a (4) -, but most have to take out a student (5) from the bank, which can take years to pay off! Most students have to a (6) job in order to survive 12 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh IX X Theme-based Vocabulary Building Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the list brush up – cheat – enroll for – fees – diploma – relevant to – revise for – specialize in – boarding school – co-educational – sandwich course – school uniform – course work – maintain discipline – secondary school – under great pressure I went to the local college to - a course in economics Some parents who can afford the send their children to private schools In my last years at school we had to three subjects and I chose physics, chemistry and mathematics At the moment I’m studying for my secretarial In my country - is only worn at private schools He watched us closely during exams so that we didn’t You have to be really strict to with some of the pupils you get nowadays I went to - so I only saw my parents during the holidays I wish I had gone to a rather than a single-sex school as I’m sure I wouldn’t be so shy when I meet people 10.We grade pupils on the basis of - and end-of-term tests 11.In some countries children are put by their parents to get good exam results 12.The first year I worked at the factory I attended a at the local college 13.The change from primary to was quite traumatic for him 14.Can I borrow your lecture notes? I’ve got to - tomorrow’s test 15.I went on a four-week course to - my English 16.Is what we’re learning really the life we’re going to lead when we leave school? Reading Non-academic Students Many parents want their children to get a good education and get the appropriate qualifications for such a job Their aspirations for their children often start before the children go to school They want their children to go to a nursery school where the children begin a formal learning process, leading on to reading, writing and simple arithmetic 13 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building They not approve of nursery schools which go in for unstructured play Many of the most ambitious parents in some countries consider very carefully the possibility of sending their children to private schools They so because they feel, rightly or wrongly, that the children will get a better education there than they will in state schools Many parents decide to pay for their children’s education, although they cannot really afford it Some parents are against state schools because, in many countries, these are mainly co-ed schools They feel that their children are likely to perform better educationally in a single-sex school without the distraction of students of the opposite sex In order to find an appropriate single-sex school some parents decide to send their children to boarding school because, often, a greater proportion of these are single-sex schools Many parents, understandably, wish their children to attend a school with high academic standards so that they might pass the relevant exams and go on to tertiary education, graduate and move on to become a member of one of the main professions such as medicine or law The problem with this is that not all students are capable of realizing such parental ambitions, because they are not at all academic This does not, of course, mean that these students are completely without talent It simply means that they have aptitudes for jobs not usually associated with university For examples, they may have a natural bent for repairing car engines It is difficult for some parents to appreciate that just because a student is not academic it does not necessarily mean the end of a successful career Many children will go on to benefit hugely from vocational training and day-release schemes Many of them will very well Do not forget that many entrepreneurs did badly at school Some people are late developers They may not enjoy academic studies when they are at school However, later in life they might feel a need to continue with their academic studies For such people help is at hand Lifelong learning is part of the educational strategies of many countries The schemes related to this 14 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building include adult learning, evening classes, extramural courses, elearning and the Open University It’s never too late to learn! TEST I In the sentences below choose the most appropriate answer to fill each blank: Jim’s parents think that girls and boys should be educated together and are sending him to a school a unisex b bilateral c comprehensive d co-ed Anne has an - to be a professional dancer, but she is not good enough a aptitude b aptness c ambition d ability My daughter is going to stay and study with a French family and we are having a French student in return, but not all schools operate a student scheme a return b exchange c swapping d interchange Bill applied for the job and has received a request for a copy of his -a CD b CV c DVD d CA Jill does not think that children should be formally educated at nursery school and is sending her to a place that specializes in play a uncreative b unstructured c uneducational d didactic Students who are not academic often prefer to take a training and become tradesmen a vacational b vocational c professional d business Some children with learning difficulties get a - education in school a rectifying b corrective c remedial d curative We’ve spent a long time trying to decide whether to book the holiday or not, but the situation is now - because the holiday is no 15 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building longer available a incidental b accidental c impractical d academic Jane’s doctor father wants her to study medicine, but she does not want to follow in her father’s -a footprints b footsteps c tracks d trail 10.When I retire I am going to an course in local history at the city university a intramural b extramural c extraneous d extraordinary II In the passage below choose the most appropriate answer to fill each blank Academics - talent – qualification – tuition – graduate – boarding – stress – profession – drama – tertiary education Sally wants to be an actor, but her parents, who are both (1) , say that acting is an uncertain (2) - They want her to go into (3) - when she leaves school and would prefer her to (4) from university before going into acting As a compromise, they have agreed to pay for her (5) - at (6) - school Sally, however, wants to join a theatre group Her parents insist on her getting some sort of (7) so that she will be able to make enough money to live on if she doesn’t get enough acting jobs Sally says that her drama teacher at her co-ed (8) school says that she has a great deal of acting (9) that should not be allowed to go to waste Her parents remind her of the (10) that is involved in not getting any work and the financial problems associated with this Sally says that she would be prepared to take any kind of part-time work if it means that she can be an actor 16 SangKienKinhNghiem.org Tổng Hợp Hơn 1000 Sáng Kiến Kinh Nghiệm Chuẩn Giáo viên: Trương Mỹ Linh Theme-based Vocabulary Building REFERENCES • • • • Agnes Ng, Jemmies Siew (2012) Power Vocabulary Casco Publications Betty Kirkpatrick (2004) Vocabulary Building Learners publishing Chris Gough (2002) English Vocabulary Organizer Pauline Cullen (2008) Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS Cambridge university Press 17