vocabulary myth 6: "the best vocabulary learners make use of only one or two effective specific vocabulary learning strategies."

The next in our series looking at the research from Keith Folse:
Jay Doubleyou: vocabulary myths: applying second language research to classroom teaching

Myth 6: The best vocabulary learners make use of one or two really good specific vocabulary learning strategies.

In the real world

Folse relates an incident from his own teaching when a student made him realise that often a simplistic word attack strategy can be superior to a more sophisticated and specific approach.

What the research says

Folse discusses numerous studies on the various vocabulary learning strategies. His conclusion is that there is no specific strategy that can be recommended above all others. There are several strategies that may be effective depending on learner and context variables, and there are also strategies that likely to be ineffective.

What you can do

• No vocabulary strategy or training is a substitute for knowing vocabulary.
• There is no one strategy or training that is better than another.
• Some students are totally ignorant of strategy use; others use only a handful.Folse states that this implies teachers should make learners aware of as many strategies as possible. He then outlines three different strategies to teach the words review, valleyand call off.
• Your students may have strategies that are related to their cultural or educational background. If these startegies are successful, then encourage their use - even if it goes against what you would normally do or how you were taught.
• Teach learners how to keep a neat and spacious vocabulary notebook
• Teach learners how to keep a vocabulary notebook in such a way that it actually promotes student retrieval practice.Folse outlines what such a notebook could look like and how it could be used.

Vocabulary Myths: Applying Second Language Research To Classroom Teaching

In other words, there are several ways to build up your vocabulary
- and you should try a few out to see what you are most comfortable with:
Ten Best Vocabulary Learning Tips
Center for Language Education
Vocabulary Strategies - Learning Tasks
Vocabulary Strategies
Effective Strategies for Teaching Vocabulary
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