1

VOCABULARY BUILDING

Dr. Sarwet Rasul

2

Previous Lesson

• Reading Comprehension • Reading Comprehension• What is reading comprehension?• The reader and reading• Mental process of comprehension• Factors Affecting comprehension: reader, text, context• Reading comprehension strategies• Benefit of using these strategies• What if reading comprehension fails?• Activities and exercises to improve reading

Comprehension

3

Today’s Session

• Vocabulary Building

• What is vocabulary

• What is vocabulary building?

• Vocabulary building and our linguistic context

• Importance of Vocabulary Building

• Teaching Learning Vocabulary: Place in Curriculum

• How to build vocabulary?

• Use of Prefixes in vocabulary building

• Use of suffixes in vocabulary building

4

What is vocabulary?

• Broadly defined, vocabulary is knowledge of words and word meanings.(http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm)

• Vocabulary is “all the words known and used by a particular person”. (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vocabulary?q=vocabulary)

5

Cont… What is vocabulary?

• Vocabulary is about words – where they come from, how they change, how they relate to each other and how we use them to view the world.(Beauer,1998: p.VIII)

• Vocabulary is the foundation of language, our most effective communication tool. (McDermott, 2006: p.4)

6

Words• Words, like facts, are difficult to remember out of context. Remembering

is greatly facilitated when you have a body of information with which to associate either a word or a fact. For words, interesting origins or histories will help provide a context. For example, a hippopotamus is a "river horse," from the Greek hippos, meaning "horse," and potamos, meaning "river.“

• Etymology is the study of the origins of words. The English language is living and growing. Although many of its words have been part of English language for many years, new words are added all the time.(http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/502.htm)

7

Our Linguistic Context

• What about Urdu?• How do you see the addition of words in it?• What about the mixing of English?

8

Vocabulary Building• Vocabulary building means increasing the vocabulary.

• Vocabulary development refers to the knowledge of stored information about the meanings and pronunciations of words necessary for communication.(www.broward.k12.fl.us/esol/Eng/.../PDF/.../12%20Vocabulary.pdf)

• Knowledge of word parts can play a role in increasing our vocabularies. Word parts include prefixes, suffixes, and root words.(Smith, 2012: p.1)

9

Importance of Vocabulary Building

(http://buildvocabulary.org/lesson1.php)

• Roughly 90% of the time, self-expression is done through words. You can't express what you want to if you don't know the words to say. Many people find themselves stumped when it comes to written and spoken communication because they have trouble organizing their thoughts and because the right words tend to elude them.

10

Cont… Importance of Vocabulary Building

• No matter who you are - a student trying to finish a term paper or a professional completing a written project, or anyone else relying on the power of words to send a message - you need an expressive and comprehensive vocabulary in order to interact well and to do a good job in your daily tasks.

• Most of your vocabulary development takes place through reading, specially when it comes to a second language or a foreign language

11

Cont…Build Vocabulary To Understand Things Better

• Language is the key to learning. A child who has limited vocabulary tends to have lots of questions. There is no way of understanding the real meaning or essence of a sentence if we don't know the exact meaning of the words used in it. Even mathematical problems become easier to understand if you have a good vocabulary. You can easily translate the problem at hand and find solutions to it if you know the meaning of the words used.

• People who have a good grasp of vocabulary are often more intelligent. They are the ones who easily grasp knowledge.

12

Cont…Build Vocabulary To Interact With People Better

• Brush up your speaking and vocabulary skills if you want to interact with people better.

• According to studies, people prefer interacting with well-spoken and well-read people because they know more and they have a lot of interesting things to talk about.

13

Cont… Build Vocabulary To Increase Self-Confidence

• Many people admit to feeling intimidated when they are around people who speak intelligently and articulately. A sort of social stigma is often applied to people who do not have the ability to clearly express themselves.

14

Cont… Build Vocabulary to Speed Up Progress

• A good vocabulary can actually speed up learning. It is much easier to understand difficult sentences in academic books if you have a good vocabulary. People who are well-versed in many topics - and the vocabulary to talk about them - look and sound more intelligent, and they therefore stand a better chance of making progress in academics and jobs.

15

Vocabulary building and our academic curricula• Most graduates from our schools and colleges are found to have a vocabulary

that is often inadequate for their needs.

• Most of the time, the source of this deficiency is the curriculum, unfortunately.

• The curriculum doesn’t adequately focus on the development of a well-rounded vocabulary and is also limited in the resources it offers for one to enhance theirs’.

• Majority of the students who have a good command of the English language and a greater vocabulary are usually those who make their own efforts to achieve it.

• When reading, if they come across words unfamiliar to them, they go out of their way to look them up in a dictionary.

• They try to remember them and use them in their communication.

16

The Value of Vocabulary Building• Words are unique and interesting. A limited vocabulary keeps you from

expressing your real thoughts and feelings. A strong vocabulary gives you the right words to use at the right time.

• Vocabulary building takes patience and continued effort. Your vocabulary can and should be a reflection of you. Your vocabulary is you. And like you, your vocabulary should be alive. It should change and grow to meet your needs.(http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/501.HTM)

• Vocabulary development is also a primary determinant of reading comprehension. Readers cannot understand the content of what they are reading unless they understand the meaning of the majority of words in the text. (www.broward.k12.fl.us/esol/Eng/.../PDF/.../12%20Vocabulary.pdf)

17

Cont.

• Vocabulary is a basic part of reading comprehension. If you don't know enough words, you are going to have trouble understanding what you read. An occasional word may not stop you, but if there are too many words you don't know, comprehension will suffer. The content of textbooks is often challenging enough; you don't want to work as well on understanding the words that express that content.

• Vocabulary is a major part of almost every standardized test, including reading achievement tests, college entrance exams, and armed forces and vocational placement tests. Vocabulary is a key measure of both one's learning and one's ability to learn. The more words you know, then, the better you are likely to do on such important tests.

18

Teaching Learning Vocabulary: Place in Curriculum

• There is a need for direct instruction of vocabulary items required for a specific text.

• Repetition and multiple exposure to vocabulary items are important. Students should be given items that will be likely to appear in many contexts.

• Learning in rich contexts is valuable for vocabulary learning. Vocabulary words should be those that the learner will find useful in many contexts. When vocabulary items are derived from content learning materials, the learner will be better equipped to deal with specific reading matter in content areas.

What the National Reading Panel Says About the Role of Vocabulary in Reading Instruction (Reprinted from National Reading Panel, 2000, p. 4-4)

(http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm)

19

Cont.• Vocabulary tasks should be restructured as necessary. It is important to be

certain that students fully understand what is asked of them in the context of reading, rather than focusing only on the words to be learned. Restructuring seems to be most effective for low achieving or at-risk students

• Vocabulary learning is effective when it entails active engagement in learning tasks.

• Computer technology can be used effectively to help teach vocabulary.

• Vocabulary can be acquired through incidental learning. Much of a student’s vocabulary will have to be learned in the course of doing things other than explicit vocabulary learning. Repetition, richness of context, and motivation may also add to the efficacy of incidental learning of vocabulary.

20

Cont.• Studies have indicated that students with strong vocabularies are more

successful in school and that a good vocabulary is an influential factor for people who enjoy successful careers in life. Words are the tools not just of better reading, but of better writing, speaking, listening, and thinking as well. The more words you have at your command, the more effective your communication can be, and the more influence you can have on the people around you.

• In today's world, a good vocabulary counts more than ever. Many jobs provide services or process information, and the skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking are essential. (http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/501.HTM)

21

How to build vocabulary?Word parts

• Prefixes are word parts added at the beginning of words, and they dramatically alter a word’s meaning, including changing a word to its opposite meaning: correct-incorrect; regard-disregard.

• Suffixes are word parts added at the end of words. A suffix can change a word’s part of speech: jump (verb) -jumper (noun); poison (noun)-poisonous (adjective).

• Roots are the base part of words. They convey the bulk of a word’s meaning.

(Smith, 2012: p.1)

22

Prefixes are ………….• Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] are groups of

letters placed before words or roots. Prefixes modify or extend the meanings of words and roots.

23

under , mega , sub , arch , over , micro ……..line = to emphasize • ………… normal = below normal average • ……phone = a cone-shaped device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human voice • ……nourished = not sufficiently fed • ……..-rebel = the main rebel • ………..fine = extremely fine size or texture, very fine in quality • ……… take = to go before another vehicle on the road • ……. computer = a small computer based on a microprocessor • ………… come = to beat or win a victor • ………… bred = not given enough food • …………size = smaller than normal for its kind • …………merge = to go under • …….-opponent = the main opponent • … film = a film with photographed materials in greatly reduced size • ……… estimate = to give something higher importance

24

under , mega , sub , arch , over , micro

• ……..line = to emphasize under• …… normal = below normal average sub• …….phone = a cone-shaped device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human

voice mega • …….nourished = not sufficiently fed under• …….-rebel = the main rebel arch• …….fine = extremely fine size or texture, very fine in quality mega • ……take = to go before another vehicle on the road over• ……. computer = a small computer based on a microprocessor micro• …… come = to beat or win a victor over• …… bred = not given enough food under• …size = smaller than normal for its kind under• …erge = to go under sub• …-opponent = the main opponent arch• … film = a film with photographed in greatly reduced size micro• …… estimate = to give something higher importance over

25

Trans, pan, super, out, dis, hypo, auto, con, de, circum, anti, ante, ultra

• ……power = a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world • …..swim = travel faster through water than competitors • ….dermic = a way of injecting drugs under a person's skin

… -light = extremely light • … class = belonging to the lowest and least privileged social stratum

… -room = A large entrance or reception room or area • …. pathy = dislike, opposite feeling • ..…. scribe = draw a line around • … verse = Carry on a conversation• … loading = self-loading• …. Organization = A condition in which an orderly system has been disrupted • … activate = Remove from active military status or reassign • ….. arthritis = Inflammation involving all the tissues of a joint • ... action = The act of dealing within or between two groups • …. figure = Mar or spoil the appearance of • …. Polar = Located or found around a polar region

26

Trans, pan, super, out, dis, hypo, auto, con, de, circum, anti, ante, ultra

• …power = a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world ..super• …..swim = travel faster through water than competitors .out • …..dermic = a way of injecting drugs under a person's skin hypo• ……. -light = extremely light ultra• …. class = belonging to the lowest and least privileged social stratum under

…… -room = A large entrance or reception room or area ante• …. pathy = dislike, opposite feeling anti • ..… scribe = draw a line around circum• … verse = Carry on a conversation con• … loading = self-loading auto• …. Organization = A condition in which an orderly system has been disrupted dis• … activate = Remove from active military status or reassign de• ….. arthritis = Inflammation involving all the tissues of a joint pan• ... action = The act of dealing within or between two groups trans • …. Figure = Mar or spoil the appearance of dis• …. Polar = Located or found around a polar region circum

27

List of important prefixes

• Important prefixes.pdf

28

List of important suffixes

• Important Suffixes.pdf

29

Circle the best available answer for each of the following: • 1) This newspaper is a BIWEEKLY. a) the newspaper is published once a week b) the newspaper is published three times a week c) the newspaper is published twice a week

• 2) This medicine is a nasal DECONGESTANT. a) the medicine helps to reduce nasal congestion b) the medicine causes nasal congestion c) the medicine makes your nose bigger

• 3) That shopping bag is REUSABLE. a) throw the shopping bag away, we won’t need it again b) don’t throw away the shopping bag because we can use it again. c) if you throw the shopping bag we cannot use it again

30

• 4) I’m sorry I MISREAD the notice and therefore MISUNDERSTOOD the message.

a) Did not read the notice correctly and therefore did not understand correctly.

b) Read the notice and understood the message correctly c) Did not read the notice and therefore did not understand the message.

• 5) We usually do not publish articles we don’t PREVIEW. a) we usually read articles before publication b) we do not read articles after publication c) we read articles the day we publish them

31

• 6) REFORESTATION will help to RESTORE our environment. a) planting trees again will replenish our environment. b) cutting down trees will further help to worsen the environment. c) forests should be cut to improve the worsening environmental pollution

• 7) DEFORESTATION will cause environmental DEPLETION. a) Means planting trees will help our environment from depletion b) Means cutting down trees will cause further environmental depletion c) Means too many forests will cause further environmental depletion

32

• A learner’s lack of existing vocabulary knowledge also acts as an impediment. One of the quickest ways to increase your vocabulary is to build on existing knowledge. This could refer to background information or understanding familiar parts of a word (such as a prefix or suffix).

(http://www.write-better-english.com/importance-of-improving-your-vocabulary.aspx)

33

References• Beauer, L. (1998). Vocabulary. Florence: Routledge.•  Bonet, D. (1992). Vocabulary Improvement: words made easy. USA: Course

Technology Crisp.•  Brett & McKay, K. (2012).The Importance of Building Your Vocabulary (And 5 Easy

Steps to Doing It). Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from .http://artofmanliness.com/2012/10/03/the-importance-of-building-your-vocabulary-and-5-easy-steps-to-doing-it/

•   Etymology: The Origin of Words. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/502.htm

34

• Friend, C. E., Knight, L.D., & Glazier, T. F. (2012). The Least You Should Know About Vocabulary Building: Word Roots (7th ed.). USA: Wadsworth.Cengage Learning

• Importance of Vocabulary Building. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://buildvocabulary.org/lesson1.php

•  Improving Your Vocabulary: Rationales and Road Blocks. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://www.write-better-english.com/importance-of-improving-your-vocabulary.aspx

•  Introduction. (2003). Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/501.HTM

 

35

• Lehr, F., Osborn, J., &. Hiebert, E. H. A Focus on Vocabulary. Pacific Resources for Education and Learning. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm

• McDermott, E. I. (2006). Varsity Vocabulary : Words for Standardized Tests. USA: Vocalis Limited.

•  Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from (www.broward.k12.fl.us/esol/Eng/.../PDF/.../12%20Vocabulary.pdf)

•  Smith, R. K. (2012). Building Vocabulary for College (8th ed.). USA: Wadsworth.Cengage Learning

• The importance of Vocabulary Building. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://www.vocabularybuilding.org/vocabulary-building/importance-vocabulary-building/

• Vocabulary Exercise - Prefixes and Suffixes. (2012). Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-exercise-affixes.php

•  Vocabulary. (2011). Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vocabulary?q=vocabulary

 

36

Review of Today’s lesson

• Vocabulary Building

• What is vocabulary

• What is vocabulary building?

• Vocabulary building and our linguistic context

• Importance of Vocabulary Building

• Teaching Learning VSocabulary: Place in Curriculum

• How to build vocabulary?

• Use of Prefixes in vocabulary building

• Use of suffixes in vocabulary building

• The next session will be part 2 of vocabulary building lesson

37

Thank you very much!