Learning vocabulary in an English-language classroom is a major challenge for many students as it is an essential part of foreign language learning

Sam

Introduction

Learning vocabulary in an English-language classroom is a major challenge for many students as it is an essential part of foreign language learning. Words convey meaning, and the expansion of vocabulary helps to eliminate misunderstandings in communication. This study investigates the impact of implementing new vocabulary teaching strategies-context drills, word-on-board games, flash-card games, mini-presentations and role playing, dictionary use and blended learning-to develop ESL learners’ vocabulary acquisition. The control group was taught vocabulary using the traditional didactic teaching method. The study’s sample consisted of 248 first-year students enrolled in the Faculty of Education and the Deanship of the Preparatory Year at the University of Dammam. English instructors with similar qualifications and experience taught the students. Vocabulary pre- and post-tests were given to groups at the beginning and at the end of the class. Data collected from the tests were then documented and statistically analyzed. The findings reveal that students taught using the new methods of instruction had better vocabulary test scores than those taught using the traditional method. These methods have proven to be effective in improving students’ vocabulary acquisition.

English has four aspects and skills that must be known by the learners. The four aspects are spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Meanwhile, the four skills namely listening, reading, writing and speaking. Those four aspects can develop the four skills in English. This research focuses on one of the aspects that can build the four skills in English. This research focuses on one of the aspects that can build the four skills in English. The aspect is known as vocabulary. There are some reasons that make vocabulary is important to be learned. First, it will be hard for the learners if they must study English with limited words in their mind. Thus, learning vocabulary can help the learners to enrich their words in English. If they know those words, they can express their thought through English but if they do not know words in English they cannot write, read, speak anything in English. Second, it is impossible to teach spelling, pronunciation and grammar for the beginners if they do not know the words first. Those reasons make the writer can see how important to learn vocabulary for the EFL learners. Developing vocabulary will be great if it can be started from a young age. They are a great word learners. They have some special characteristics that can make them easier in learning vocabulary.
Teaching vocabulary to young learners is important because they have some special characteristics that can make them easier to learn new words. Although they have those special characteristics, they need a teacher as a facilitator and good techniques that can motivate them in learning vocabulary. The aim of this research are to find out young learners’ achievement in learning vocabulary, techniques that can be employed to young learners and techniques that can work for young learners. The writer did observation at Alphabet Club and the population of the research was young learners aged 5 up to 7 years old. The writer did class observation and calculated young learners’ scores. The findings revealed that young learners’ average score categorized very good.
Young learners aged 5 years old got 86.30 and young learners aged 6 up to 7 years old got 89.60. Moreover, the teacher has employed different techniques in teaching vocabulary to young learners aged 5 years old and young learners aged 6 up to 7 years old. The writer found out that the teacher employed the use of pictures, command and real object in teaching vocabulary to young learners aged 5 years old. Then, the teacher employed the use of text book, translation and memorization in teaching vocabulary to young learners aged 6 up to 7 years old.
"Vocabulary acquisition is the largest and most important task facing the language learner."¹. The aim of this thesis is to present two main streams in language teaching approaches and their influence on students' acquisition. By confrontation grammar translation method vs. communicative approach I summarized their principles, both advantages and disadvantages, and tried to show how to make profit out of both to get the best possible result. The measurable result in this case is acquired knowledge which was tested in a real classroom. The first part concerns the historical and theoretical backgrounds of both methods and their characteristics. It also devoted in general principles of vocabulary learning process. The second part is based on practical work within a classroom. It consists of different lesson plans of the same topic dealt with two considered methods and leads to testing and evaluating stage in each group.
In fact , English is so widely spoken and regularly taught that it would be difficult to engage in any substantial activity without understanding the language . English has been transformed into the customary language for businesspeople and academics . Therefore , verbalizing it effortlessly has numerous benefits . Technological firms have realized the issue of studying and teaching the English language in most educational institutions and have effectively come up with different products to counter this problem.
By far , the biggest issue in learning English is the large numbers of students that makes it difficult to offer individual attention . The introduction of ICT into the learning system sought to bridge this gap by eliminating the issue of numbers , affordability and technicality of learning using new technology . ICT has also enriched the learning experience by making it more entertaining and informative .Generally , reading exposes people to a completely new world beyond themselves as it allows individuals to increase increases their vocabulary knowledge . Reading introduces students to new words , and in many cases , it allows the reader to infer their significance from the context in which they were written .Presumably , readers bear in mind most of the new meaning connections , particularly if they maintain reading and encounter the vocabulary words in a different context.It is very reasonable to presuppose that learning new vocabulary through reading benefits readers whose first language is not English . Therefore , vocabulary is a fundamental feature in language , since it emerges in every skill of language from reading , listening writing and speaking.
Lastly , English vocabulary software has endless resources in the form of a thesaurus and dictionary that further elaborates on any word . The advantage of teaching using this method of vocabulary is that it overcomes any language barriers that the teacher may have . It also eliminates misunderstanding , senseless clarifications and exhaustion among the tutors.