Pilot Academic Word List: Rapporteren en Argumenteren in het Engels (Spring 2006)
Learning Academic Vocabulary: A Pilot
Background
Vocabulary is usually studied by learning lists of translations by heart (rote learning) and by having
these tested according to the translation method. Although this can be very effective, there are some
disadvantages.
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Words are studied without a context (Language in use, prepositions, word families, etc)
Learning by heart takes a lot of time
Unless used often and repeated, words are not retained for long
Test focussed
Extremely boring
The idea behind using the Academic Word List1 is that there is no translation involved and the
vocabulary is studied by using texts that the students have to study anyway or find themselves.
Advantages:
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Words are studied in a context (Language in use, prepositions, word families, etc)
vocabulary is studied actively
study of key words only
process focussed
The Academic Word List2
The words in the Academic Word List (AWL) have been selected from over 400 written academic
texts covering 28 different subject areas from 4 disciplines: arts, commerce, law and science. As a
result, the 570 words on the Academic Word List are valuable for all students preparing for academic
study. The words are divided into 10 sub lists according to frequency.
Sub list 1 has the most frequent; Sub list 10 has less frequent words. For our purposes and level we
will use Sub lists 1-7.
Aims
The aim of the project is to find a different way of approaching vocabulary in which student autonomy
is guaranteed. This will be ensured by using texts which the students have to study (for other
subjects) and/or texts they propose themselves. The focus will be on the process of learning rather
than the test at the end. Students will be asked to study 1 or 2 texts per week (6 weeks) with a short
exercise (gap fill) at the end of the week. The final test will be a gap fill based on the texts studied
during the course. The long-term aim is to train you how to handle academic texts independently and
show you how you can practise using the AWL and Gap fills.
Because this is a pilot, the teachers will provide the groups with a weekly selection of texts (with the
words from the AWL highlighted) and prepare the gap fills for the exercise. However, students are
encouraged to provide the teachers with interesting texts in order to guarantee student autonomy.
The Pilot
Students will be assigned to read and study 1 or 2 texts per week. The vocabulary belonging to the
Academic Word List will be highlighted. Students should focus on the vocabulary that they do not
know. Suggestions on how to study and what to do are given below. Each week the texts (or parts of
the texts) will be transformed into a gap fill exercise for students to practice with. At the end of the
course, students will be tested by taking short parts from the selected texts, presented as a gap fill.
Students will also be asked to fill in a questionnaire about their findings and experiences using the
AWL. A small number of students may be asked to participate in an interview for further feedback
and comments.
1
2
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~alzsh3/acvocab/index.htm
To see the complete AWL look at Coxhead's website.
Pilot Academic Word List: Rapporteren en Argumenteren in het Engels (Spring 2006)
Learning Academic Vocabulary3
Here are some suggestions about using the AWL Highlighter and the AWL Gap maker to help
you expand your academic vocabulary.
1. Look at the text(s) set for homework this week.
(For independent study, now and in the future, you can also use a text of your own interest.
For on-line sources, look at the links4 page. Copy and paste, or type it into the AWL Highlighter5;
process it and print it. You will see the academic words highlighted in bold.)
2. Read the text(s) through a couple of times so that you understand the main ideas.
3. Select the academic words you want to learn. Study them carefully. For example:
"The plans include planting trees and hedges to protect crops from grazing animals and wind
erosion."
Use the context:
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to try to get an idea of the meaning:
It's necessary to protect crops from erosion, so erosion has a negative
meaning.
to consider other words it is used with
erosion is used in the phrase wind erosion
to consider the grammar of the word
erosion is used in the singular, with no article, so erosion is an
uncountable noun
4. To see more examples of the word in different contexts, use an English-English dictionary, for
example try the Cambridge On-Line Dictionary or use concordance lines.
Another option would be the Longman On-Line Dictionary (http://www.ldoceonline.com/)
5. When you feel you have a good understanding of the academic word and how it is used,
create your own sentence. Use the word in a sentence about yourself, your family, your country
or your studies. For example:
"Soil erosion is a problem for the farmers in my region."
6. When you have studied several words and written your own sentences for them, paste or type
your sentences into the AWL Gapmaker. Print the gapped sentences, without the key. One
week later use these gapped sentences as an exercise to test yourself.
Alternatively, choose a paragraph or two from the text to make a gap fill exercise.
You can exchange tests with your classmates. To make it easier for them, add the key.
7. The AWL Highlighter can also be used to help you improve your writing. Process an
academic essay you have written. If there are only a few academic words, you will know that
you need to add more. Look at Sub list 1 of the AWL: can you find a way to add some of the
words that you know to your essay?
3
Taken from and adapted: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~alzsh3/acvocab/learning.htm
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~alzsh3/acvocab/links.htm
5 http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~alzsh3/acvocab/awlhighlighter.htm
4
Pilot Academic Word List: Rapporteren en Argumenteren in het Engels (Spring 2006)
Useful sites for practising:
1. http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm
Alphabetic list of AWL with related words and a link to a Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
2. http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm (click on Exercises; selection; Individual Words)
Alphabetic list of AWL with exercises on Word order and meanings from
http://www.ldoceonline.com/
3. http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm (click on Exercises; selection; Academic Word
List)
Large number of texts with highlights and gap fills to improve your vocabulary.
4. http://college.hmco.com/esl/huntley/essential_academic_vocabulary/1e/students/index.html6
- Quizzes
- Flashcards
- Crosswords
6
To accompany : Helen Huntley Essential Academic Vocabulary First Edition, West Virginia
University (Can be used on its own )