Usefulness and Learnability in Teaching Vocabulary to ESL/EFL Students
The Women's Academic Development and Quality Committee, committed to enhancing the quality of teaching, organized a workshop on "Usefulness and Learnability in Teaching Vocabulary to ESL/EFL Students" on Monday, February 24, 2020. Conducted by Ms. Shanjida Halim, Ms. Tanzina Halim, and Dr. Rizwana Wahid, this workshop was specifically designed for new educators, graduate students, and faculty members of the Bachelor of Arts in English program who have yet to teach courses such as ENG 214 Vocabulary Building 1 and ENG 219 Vocabulary Building 2.
The workshop objectives were manifold, aimed to cover:
- The critical role of vocabulary as the 'building blocks of language' and relevant fundamental principles.
- Various types of vocabulary.
- Comparison between incidental and intentional acquisition or learning of vocabulary.
- Essential elements to consider when teaching vocabulary.
- A variety of methods for presenting and teaching vocabulary.
- Criteria for vocabulary selection, with a particular focus on 'Usefulness' and 'Learnability'.
- Recommendations for promoting long-term vocabulary retention.
The session placed special emphasis on vocabulary selection, a topic vital for teachers to comprehend fully. The 'Usefulness' and 'Learnability' criteria for teaching vocabulary were extensively discussed. The presenters also stressed the importance of an active vocabulary in the target language, a crucial tool for students striving to become fluent speakers and effective writers. The workshop concluded with practical strategies for vocabulary teaching and learning, along with an encouraging reminder for vocabulary teachers to foster long-term retention in their ESL/EFL students.
Deemed highly informative by its participants, the workshop was attended by esteemed colleagues and graduate students. Among the attendees were Dr. Salma Musleh, the Dean's Assistant, Dr. Mona Al-Shihry, Vice Dean, and Dr. Nada Al-Qarni, the Head of the Department.
