Supportive Vocabulary Learning Environment

Supportive Vocabulary Learning Environment

As society becomes more socially complex and competitive, an expansive vocabulary takes on greater importance. For children and adults alike, some benefits of an improved vocabulary include the ability to effectively communicate and express oneself, ease of adaptability through more sophisticated social skills, and greater overall success in school or workplace endeavors. One of the most well-known facts about language is that young children, particularly toddlers, absorb and incorporate new words and meanings into their vocabulary at an amazingly rapid rate . However, educators need to take advantage of their position by encouraging ongoing vocabulary improvement at all skill levels by fostering a supportive learning environment. However, studies show that classic methods for vocabulary instruction such as traditional reading-based contextual learning or quizzing based on memorization of new vocabulary lists are not highly efficient or effective . Fortunately, the technologies of today offer may options to aid vocabulary learning in ways that are arguably more fun that the forced readings or rote memorization of yesteryear. Some ideas include providing variety through online and other classroom games, interactive and educational television watching, offering incentives for new word understanding, and the introduction of writing assignments based on students' personal preferences.

Learning occurs most easily when a student is genuinely interested in the topic at hand; this suggests that assigning vocabulary words and writing assignments based on a student's favorite activities and interests could be highly beneficial. Although a large part of school involves learning required subjects for practical purposes, in the realm of vocabulary there is some wiggle room for personal preference. In the process of learning more about a subject that captures a particular student's interest, that student will naturally pick up new words that are useful in other subjects and everyday situations. And because those new words are encountered in the context of a topic of personal interest to a student, they are much more likely to be incorporated into long-term memory . Therefore, I would suggest weekly reading and writing assignments to include demonstration of vocabulary comprehension, based on topics chosen by individual students.

Another fun approach I would take to support vocabulary development in the classroom would involve taking advantage of current online games and resources. Rather than bemoaning the fact that children are spending more and more time online, I would take advantage of this amazing technology to encourage learning. Crossword puzzles and miscellaneous creative word games, such as those found at http://www.vocabulary.co.il/, offer exciting and novel vocabulary challenges to students in a format they will find enjoyable. And as I mentioned earlier, a child will more likely remember something he or she learns while having fun .

In addition to the Internet, television can be an effective tool for learning vocabulary if used interactively as opposed to passively. According to Kathleen Kennedy Manzo of Education Week, recent studies support certain educational television programs for vocabulary improvement. Manzo says, "WordWorld,' a program funded under the Ready to Learn initiative, helps preschool children learn oral vocabulary and featured words. 'Between the Lions,' hosted by a puppet family of lions who live in the New York City Library, has been studied even more extensively. Studies on the 10-year-old program have linked it to significant gains in students' understanding of how letters combine to make words, as well as of the purpose of the printed word." Not surprisingly, the best programs are based on techniques developed by researchers, and tested on children before airing. (Manzo, 2009) Once again, when a child is engaged, they naturally and painlessly learn new words; they must learn new words in order to comprehend and keep up with their favorite characters and storylines. Of course, to further encourage learning from television watching, I would periodically pause the program for a short question and answer session focusing on these new words and their meanings.