Questions on Text 20

Text 20: DECARRICO – Vocabulary learning and teaching


1- Do you teach vocabulary? How do you do it?

2- What is involved in teaching/learning vocabulary? Gather as many aspects as possible. For example, what does it mean to know a word? Is it possible to use the meaning of a word out of context?

3- What is the difference between implicit and explicit instruction of vocabulary? Give an example of each approach.

4- Should more emphasis be given to implicit or explicit vocabulary teaching at the beginning level? Why? What does the author say about intermediate and advanced levels?

5- According to the author, what does it mean “to learn 2000 words” at a basic level? Does it mean to identify and use 2000 isolated words? Explain.

6- Which teaching techniques for explicit teaching are highlighted in this text? Why are they important? What do you find important or interesting about them?

7- What vocabulary learning strategies does the author present? Do you think students develop them by themselves or do teachers have to allow them to practice those strategies? Give examples for each strategy.

8- How does the author define and comment on collocations? What categories of collocations are there? Should they be presented only at more advanced levels? What can and should be presented at the beginning levels? Why?