VOCABULARY BUILDING
Dr. Sarwet Rasul
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Previous Lesson
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Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
What is reading comprehension?
The reader and reading
Mental process of comprehension
Factors Affecting comprehension: reader, text, context
Reading comprehension strategies
Benefit of using these strategies
What if reading comprehension fails?
Activities and exercises to improve reading
Comprehension
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Today’s Session
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Vocabulary Building
What is vocabulary
What is vocabulary building?
Vocabulary building and our linguistic context
Importance of Vocabulary Building
Teaching Learning Vocabulary: Place in Curriculum
How to build vocabulary?
Use of Prefixes in vocabulary building
Use of suffixes in vocabulary building
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What is vocabulary?
• Broadly defined, vocabulary is knowledge of words and word
meanings.
(http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm)
• Vocabulary is “all the words known and used by a particular person”.
(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vocabulary?q=vocabulary)
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Cont…
What is vocabulary?
• Vocabulary is about words – where they come from, how they
change, how they relate to each other and how we use them to
view the world.
(Beauer,1998: p.VIII)
• Vocabulary is the foundation of language, our most effective
communication tool.
(McDermott, 2006: p.4)
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Words
• Words, like facts, are difficult to remember out of context. Remembering
is greatly facilitated when you have a body of information with which to
associate either a word or a fact. For words, interesting origins or
histories will help provide a context. For example, a hippopotamus is a
"river horse," from the Greek hippos, meaning "horse," and potamos,
meaning "river.“
• Etymology is the study of the origins of words. The English language is
living and growing. Although many of its words have been part of
English language for many years, new words are added all the time.
(http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/502.htm)
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Our Linguistic Context
• What about Urdu?
• How do you see the addition of words in it?
• What about the mixing of English?
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Vocabulary Building
• Vocabulary building means increasing the vocabulary.
• Vocabulary development refers to the knowledge of stored
information about the meanings and pronunciations of words
necessary for communication.
(www.broward.k12.fl.us/esol/Eng/.../PDF/.../12%20Vocabulary.pdf)
• Knowledge of word parts can play a role in increasing our
vocabularies. Word parts include prefixes, suffixes, and root
words.
(Smith, 2012: p.1)
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Importance of Vocabulary Building
(http://buildvocabulary.org/lesson1.php)
• Roughly 90% of the time, self-expression is done through words.
You can't express what you want to if you don't know the words to
say. Many people find themselves stumped when it comes to
written and spoken communication because they have trouble
organizing their thoughts and because the right words tend to
elude them.
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Cont… Importance of Vocabulary Building
• No matter who you are - a student trying to finish a term paper or a
professional completing a written project, or anyone else relying on
the power of words to send a message - you need an expressive
and comprehensive vocabulary in order to interact well and to do a
good job in your daily tasks.
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Most of your vocabulary development takes place through
reading, specially when it comes to a second language or a foreign
language
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Cont…Build Vocabulary To Understand Things Better
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Language is the key to learning. A child who has limited vocabulary
tends to have lots of questions. There is no way of understanding
the real meaning or essence of a sentence if we don't know the
exact meaning of the words used in it. Even mathematical problems
become easier to understand if you have a good vocabulary. You
can easily translate the problem at hand and find solutions to it if you
know the meaning of the words used.
• People who have a good grasp of vocabulary are often more
intelligent. They are the ones who easily grasp knowledge.
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Cont…Build Vocabulary To Interact With People Better
• Brush up your speaking and vocabulary skills if you want to interact
with people better.
• According to studies, people prefer interacting with well-spoken and
well-read people because they know more and they have a lot of
interesting things to talk about.
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Cont… Build Vocabulary To Increase Self-Confidence
• Many people admit to feeling intimidated when they are around
people who speak intelligently and articulately. A sort of social
stigma is often applied to people who do not have the ability to
clearly express themselves.
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Cont… Build Vocabulary to Speed Up Progress
• A good vocabulary can actually speed up learning. It is much easier
to understand difficult sentences in academic books if you have a
good vocabulary. People who are well-versed in many topics - and
the vocabulary to talk about them - look and sound more intelligent,
and they therefore stand a better chance of making progress in
academics and jobs.
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Vocabulary building and our academic curricula
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Most graduates from our schools and colleges are found to have a vocabulary
that is often inadequate for their needs.
Most of the time, the source of this deficiency is the curriculum, unfortunately.
The curriculum doesn’t adequately focus on the development of a well-rounded
vocabulary and is also limited in the resources it offers for one to enhance
theirs’.
Majority of the students who have a good command of the English language
and a greater vocabulary are usually those who make their own efforts to
achieve it.
When reading, if they come across words unfamiliar to them, they go out of
their way to look them up in a dictionary.
They try to remember them and use them in their communication.
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The Value of Vocabulary Building
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Words are unique and interesting. A limited vocabulary keeps you from
expressing your real thoughts and feelings. A strong vocabulary gives you the
right words to use at the right time.
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Vocabulary building takes patience and continued effort. Your vocabulary can
and should be a reflection of you. Your vocabulary is you. And like you, your
vocabulary should be alive. It should change and grow to meet your needs.
(http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/501.HTM)
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Vocabulary development is also a primary determinant of reading
comprehension. Readers cannot understand the content of what they are
reading unless they understand the meaning of the majority of words in the
text.
(www.broward.k12.fl.us/esol/Eng/.../PDF/.../12%20Vocabulary.pdf)
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Cont.
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Vocabulary is a basic part of reading comprehension. If you don't know
enough words, you are going to have trouble understanding what you read.
An occasional word may not stop you, but if there are too many words you
don't know, comprehension will suffer. The content of textbooks is often
challenging enough; you don't want to work as well on understanding the
words that express that content.
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Vocabulary is a major part of almost every standardized test, including
reading achievement tests, college entrance exams, and armed forces and
vocational placement tests. Vocabulary is a key measure of both one's
learning and one's ability to learn. The more words you know, then, the
better you are likely to do on such important tests.
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Teaching Learning Vocabulary: Place in Curriculum
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There is a need for direct instruction of vocabulary items required for a specific
text.
Repetition and multiple exposure to vocabulary items are important. Students
should be given items that will be likely to appear in many contexts.
Learning in rich contexts is valuable for vocabulary learning. Vocabulary words
should be those that the learner will find useful in many contexts. When
vocabulary items are derived from content learning materials, the learner will
be better equipped to deal with specific reading matter in content areas.
What the National Reading Panel Says About the Role of Vocabulary in Reading Instruction (Reprinted from
National Reading Panel, 2000, p. 4-4)
(http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm)
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Cont.
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Vocabulary tasks should be restructured as necessary. It is important to be
certain that students fully understand what is asked of them in the context of
reading, rather than focusing only on the words to be learned. Restructuring
seems to be most effective for low achieving or at-risk students
Vocabulary learning is effective when it entails active engagement in
learning tasks.
Computer technology can be used effectively to help teach vocabulary.
Vocabulary can be acquired through incidental learning. Much of a student’s
vocabulary will have to be learned in the course of doing things other than
explicit vocabulary learning. Repetition, richness of context, and motivation
may also add to the efficacy of incidental learning of vocabulary.
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Cont.
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Studies have indicated that students with strong vocabularies are more
successful in school and that a good vocabulary is an influential factor for
people who enjoy successful careers in life. Words are the tools not just of
better reading, but of better writing, speaking, listening, and thinking as well.
The more words you have at your command, the more effective your
communication can be, and the more influence you can have on the people
around you.
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In today's world, a good vocabulary counts more than ever. Many jobs
provide services or process information, and the skills of reading, writing,
listening, and speaking are essential.
(http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/501.HTM)
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How to build vocabulary?
Word parts
• Prefixes are word parts added at the beginning of words, and they
dramatically alter a word’s meaning, including changing a word to its
opposite meaning: correct-incorrect; regard-disregard.
• Suffixes are word parts added at the end of words. A suffix can
change a word’s part of speech: jump (verb) -jumper (noun); poison
(noun)-poisonous (adjective).
• Roots are the base part of words. They convey the bulk of a word’s
meaning.
(Smith, 2012: p.1)
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Prefixes are ………….
• Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] are groups of
letters placed before words or roots. Prefixes modify or extend the
meanings of words and roots.
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under , mega , sub , arch , over , micro
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……..line = to emphasize
………… normal = below normal average
……phone = a cone-shaped device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human voice
……nourished = not sufficiently fed
……..-rebel = the main rebel
………..fine = extremely fine size or texture, very fine in quality
……… take = to go before another vehicle on the road
……. computer = a small computer based on a microprocessor
………… come = to beat or win a victor
………… bred = not given enough food
…………size = smaller than normal for its kind
…………merge = to go under
…….-opponent = the main opponent
… film = a film with photographed materials in greatly reduced size
……… estimate = to give something higher importance
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under , mega , sub , arch , over , micro
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……..line = to emphasize under
…… normal = below normal average sub
…….phone = a cone-shaped device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human
voice mega
…….nourished = not sufficiently fed under
…….-rebel = the main rebel
arch
…….fine = extremely fine size or texture, very fine in quality mega
……take = to go before another vehicle on the road over
……. computer = a small computer based on a microprocessor micro
…… come = to beat or win a victor over
…… bred = not given enough food under
…size = smaller than normal for its kind under
…erge = to go under
sub
…-opponent = the main opponent arch
… film = a film with photographed in greatly reduced size micro
…… estimate = to give something higher importance over
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Trans, pan, super, out, dis, hypo, auto, con, de, circum, anti, ante, ultra
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……power = a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world
…..swim = travel faster through water than competitors
….dermic = a way of injecting drugs under a person's skin
… -light = extremely light
… class = belonging to the lowest and least privileged social stratum
… -room = A large entrance or reception room or area
…. pathy = dislike, opposite feeling
..…. scribe = draw a line around
… verse = Carry on a conversation
… loading = self-loading
…. Organization = A condition in which an orderly system has been disrupted
… activate = Remove from active military status or reassign
….. arthritis = Inflammation involving all the tissues of a joint
... action = The act of dealing within or between two groups
…. figure = Mar or spoil the appearance of
…. Polar = Located or found around a polar region
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Trans, pan, super, out, dis, hypo, auto, con, de, circum, anti, ante, ultra
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…power = a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world ..super
…..swim = travel faster through water than competitors
.out
…..dermic = a way of injecting drugs under a person's skin hypo
……. -light = extremely light ultra
…. class = belonging to the lowest and least privileged social stratum under
…… -room = A large entrance or reception room or area
ante
…. pathy = dislike, opposite feeling anti
..… scribe = draw a line around
circum
… verse = Carry on a conversation con
… loading = self-loading auto
…. Organization = A condition in which an orderly system has been disrupted dis
… activate = Remove from active military status or reassign de
….. arthritis = Inflammation involving all the tissues of a joint pan
... action = The act of dealing within or between two groups trans
…. Figure = Mar or spoil the appearance of dis
…. Polar = Located or found around a polar region circum
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List of important prefixes
• Important prefixes.pdf
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List of important suffixes
• Important Suffixes.pdf
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Circle the best available answer for each of the following:
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1) This newspaper is a BIWEEKLY.
a) the newspaper is published once a week
b) the newspaper is published three times a week
c) the newspaper is published twice a week
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2) This medicine is a nasal DECONGESTANT.
a) the medicine helps to reduce nasal congestion
b) the medicine causes nasal congestion
c) the medicine makes your nose bigger
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3) That shopping bag is REUSABLE.
a) throw the shopping bag away, we won’t need it again
b) don’t throw away the shopping bag because we can use it again.
c) if you throw the shopping bag we cannot use it again
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4) I’m sorry I MISREAD the notice and therefore MISUNDERSTOOD the
message.
a) Did not read the notice correctly and therefore did not understand
correctly.
b) Read the notice and understood the message correctly
c) Did not read the notice and therefore did not understand the message.
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5) We usually do not publish articles we don’t PREVIEW.
a) we usually read articles before publication
b) we do not read articles after publication
c) we read articles the day we publish them
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6) REFORESTATION will help to RESTORE our environment.
a) planting trees again will replenish our environment.
b) cutting down trees will further help to worsen the environment.
c) forests should be cut to improve the worsening environmental pollution
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7) DEFORESTATION will cause environmental DEPLETION.
a) Means planting trees will help our environment from depletion
b) Means cutting down trees will cause further environmental depletion
c) Means too many forests will cause further environmental depletion
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• A learner’s lack of existing vocabulary knowledge also acts as an
impediment. One of the quickest ways to increase your vocabulary
is to build on existing knowledge. This could refer to background
information or understanding familiar parts of a word (such as a
prefix or suffix).
(http://www.write-better-english.com/importance-of-improving-your-vocabulary.aspx)
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References
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Beauer, L. (1998). Vocabulary. Florence: Routledge.
Bonet, D. (1992). Vocabulary Improvement: words made easy. USA: Course
Technology Crisp.
Brett & McKay, K. (2012).The Importance of Building Your Vocabulary (And 5 Easy
Steps to Doing It). Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
.http://artofmanliness.com/2012/10/03/the-importance-of-building-your-vocabulary-and-5easy-steps-to-doing-it/
Etymology: The Origin of Words. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/502.htm
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Friend, C. E., Knight, L.D., & Glazier, T. F. (2012). The Least You Should Know
About Vocabulary Building: Word Roots (7th ed.). USA: Wadsworth.Cengage
Learning
Importance of Vocabulary Building. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
http://buildvocabulary.org/lesson1.php
Improving Your Vocabulary: Rationales and Road Blocks. Retrieved 20 December,
2012, from http://www.write-better-english.com/importance-of-improving-yourvocabulary.aspx
Introduction. (2003). Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/501.HTM
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Lehr, F., Osborn, J., &. Hiebert, E. H. A Focus on Vocabulary. Pacific Resources for
Education and Learning. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm
McDermott, E. I. (2006). Varsity Vocabulary : Words for Standardized Tests. USA:
Vocalis Limited.
Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
(www.broward.k12.fl.us/esol/Eng/.../PDF/.../12%20Vocabulary.pdf)
Smith, R. K. (2012). Building Vocabulary for College (8th ed.). USA:
Wadsworth.Cengage Learning
The importance of Vocabulary Building. Retrieved 20 December, 2012, from
http://www.vocabularybuilding.org/vocabulary-building/importance-vocabularybuilding/
Vocabulary Exercise - Prefixes and Suffixes. (2012). Retrieved 20 December, 2012,
from http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-exercise-affixes.php
Vocabulary. (2011). Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 20 December, 2012,
from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vocabulary?q=vocabulary
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Review of Today’s lesson
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Vocabulary Building
What is vocabulary
What is vocabulary building?
Vocabulary building and our linguistic context
Importance of Vocabulary Building
Teaching Learning VSocabulary: Place in Curriculum
How to build vocabulary?
Use of Prefixes in vocabulary building
Use of suffixes in vocabulary building
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The next session will be part 2 of vocabulary building lesson
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Thank you very much!
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