THE SECOND REFLECTION OF METHODOLOGY

This week we covered double check and conception questions with some example
words, the ways of how we store the words, lexical sets, how to practice the words and the
steps in teaching vocabulary.
First of all, we talked about so many ways to check our ss to be sure that they have
learnt the vocabulary, such as matching, fill in the blanks, acting out, using in sentences and
also we’ve learnt that we can ask some conception questions including the new learnt
vocabulary for double check. If we ask questions like that, we can see whether they’ve learnt
or not. Thanks to these questions which will be about the word, such as what the word is, how
it is used, what features it has etc., they can use them in sentences while speaking or writing,
and if they use them appropriately in sentences, we can get a general idea on whether they
they’ve learnt or not, despite the fact that we cannot control all of them. So as to be sure that
they’ve learnt, we should make them use it appropriately.
Secondly, we discussed how we store the words in our minds. For example, I send
them in a group, I create a picture, a category and I put them into this category. We shared
some ways of storing the words, such as matching pictures with words in mind, using the
words in sentences while speaking to make it permanent, using similies, synonyms, related
words, opposite words, reading books, by topic, semantic field, scale, idioms… etc. We
agreed on the idea that experiences can make us remember the word; reading and using the
words in sentences help us remembering them easily.
Thirdly, we mentioned the ways of practicing the words such as matching, fill in the
blanks, acting out, cloze sentences, games, puzzles, story buildings, multiple choices, odd one
out, grouping the related ones, using in sentences, making the students use/do/perform it,
songs including the words new learnt. All these ways will be suitable for each intelligence
type and they can develop the students’ creativity. As all the ways help them in using the
words in context such as in a speech or in a paragraph, that will help their language learning
skill. As I mentioned before, games, puzzles, stores, songs are fun for the students; when they
hear one of them, they will take off their stress t-shirts and be comfortable in the class; while
they’re having fun, they will be practicing the words without noticing. That’s why we have to
clarify our purpose, our word and choose the most suitable ways for our students to make
them learn, practice, store the words.
Finally, we cited the steps in teaching vocabulary, such as using a context and leading
them into the context; highlighting the new words to get their attention; making them guess
these words from the context; using these teaching vocabulary techniques depending on the
purpose and the words; make them be expose to these words frequently; asking concept
questions and making them use these words and creating model sentences for double check in
order to make sure that they’ve learnt the vocabulary.

Duygu ALDEMİR
(SECOND WEEK, 7-8 OCTOBER)