Vocabulary

Teaching and Learning Vocabulary : Innovative Principles and Strategies

Dr. George Kolanchery

English Studies Dept.

Bayan University College, Sultanate of Oman  

Abstract

Vocabulary plays an important part in lingual expression.  Acquiring English vocabulary is very crucial for EFL/ESL learners.  Vocabulary acquisition is very important for a learner as it is related to proficiency and fluency in English.  Vocabulary size helps the learner to use the skills of understanding, reading, writing and speaking.  It is classified as receptive vocabulary and productive vocabulary.  The acquisition of vocabulary is possible through incidental and intentional learning.  The most efficient way to achieve communicative competence is to increase the vocabulary size.  Knowing a word receptively or productively depends on meaning, form and use.  An effective vocabulary makes our expression clear and communication easy.  

This paper discusses the principles of teaching/learning a foreign language and vocabulary, reasons for Learners’ poor retention of words, and effective strategies for better vocabulary teaching/learning.  It delves deep into the different stages of teaching vocabulary and suggests innovative strategies for developing the vocabulary in view of ESL learners. The researcher also presents some useful techniques to teach vocabulary more effectively in this digital age using technology-based webtools. 

Bio-Note
Dr. George Kolanchery, Ph.D,,TESOL (UK), CELTA, LL.B. currently works at Bayan University College, Oman. He has presented papers in International ELT Conferences in Malaysia, Philippines, Oman and India; and  also works as  Reviewer and Editor for Internationally-refereed ELT journals.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LANGUAGE-2013

Cooperative Learning for Learner-Centeredness – A Practical Approach            

Dr. George Kolanchery, M.A., LL.B., Ph. D.

English Faculty & Multimedia Language Lab Supervisor

Dhofar University, Sultanate of Oman

georgeomani@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:-   Student-centered Teaching represents a fundamental shift from the teacher being the center of attention in the classroom to the student as the center of learning.  The success of Cooperative Learning is mainly dependent on the nature and organization of group work.  In this process, the key elements are positive interdependence, individual accountability and social skills. This paper delves deep into the elements of cooperative learning, its co-relation with language acquisition ,  ways  to implement learner-centred teaching through Cooperative Learning and its limitations.

Key Words:- Cooperative Learning, Teaching Methodology, Student-Centeredness

1. INTRODUCTION

In second language teaching, Cooperative Language Learning has been welcomed as a way of promoting communicative interaction in the classroom.  It is viewed as a learner-centered approach to teaching held to offer advantages over teacher-fronted classroom methods.  It provides opportunities for naturalistic second language acquisition through the use of interactive pair and group activities.  The word ‘cooperative’ in Cooperative Learning emphasizes another important dimension of Cooperative Language Learning.  It helps to develop classrooms that foster cooperation rather than competition in learning.  Many educationists and teachers agree with these views but hesitant to adopt this approach in their classrooms saying that the classes sometimes become noisy.  The answer to this is: Learners develop communicative competence in a language by conversing in socially structured situations.

STIGMA............. by Dr. George Kolanchery: INTEGRATING SKILLS THRU GAMES

STIGMA............. by Dr. George Kolanchery: INTEGRATING SKILLS THRU GAMES

INTEGRATING SKILLS THRU GAMES

By Dr.  George Kolanchery

Incorporating games to EFL classroom often integrates all the four skills and provides ample chances for the learners to interact with classmates, to articulate self constructed sentences, to learn with pleasure and to practice language in a realistic manner. In the workshop the presenters familiarize the participants with  four unique games quite useful to the teachers/learners to turn the process of learning /teaching English creatively fun filled, skill integrated, unfailingly motivated and learner centric.

Multimedia Language Lab and Its Pedagogical Benefits in EFL/ESL Learning

Dr. George Kolanchery

Media-based learning has emerged as a new, powerful form of instruction.  Apart from experimenting new teaching methods, more and more universities have been applying modern technology to support language skills teaching and linguistic studies. One may call this innovative method of Language Learning as Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) or Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). In a broader sense, we may term it Multimedia Language Lab (MLL).  In light of such innovations the paper discusses the importance of multimedia in language learning, what MLL is and its benefits, and how multimedia in language learning can be maximized. For EFL learners who desperately need more authentic exposure and the opportunities to use the knowledge learned in the classroom, the use of MLL both inside and outside the classroom can contribute to enhancing learning to a certain extent. 

EMPOWERING WEB APPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS & LEARNERS

         EMPOWERING WEB APPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS & LEARNERS

Dr. George Kolanchery

georgeomani@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The paper  focuses on  open source(OS) softwares or freewares available on the internet for ELT teaching and  learning practices and delves deep into a few of them   to show ways for exploiting the potentials of these from a linguistic perspective to make learning and teaching  interactive, learner-centric , multisensory and individual paced.

The  internet with its immense possibilities for disseminating knowledge, global sharing of ideas and constructive intellectual collaboration/rebuilding has become an enormous repertoire of free/open source softwares that cater to the needs of many teachers/learners at various levels of instruction. Though many teachers are conversant with the commonly popular softwares used in their academic environment a considerable section is not yet well initiated into the rich pool of freewares quite reliable to enhance quality of pedagogy and better positive learning outcomes in English language education. The presentation apart from attempting a fleeting survey of the cost-free softwares for ELT practices at various levels will demonstrate  the rudiments of downloading /installing /using a few of them  so that the participant get  well informed notions on how to utilize these digital contributions to their academic scenario to help  learners acquire/practise all the skills in English.

E-learning & English labs: Vehicles for Listening Skill

Asia TEFL No.OM012 – Dr. George Kolanchery

Abstract

E-learning & English labs: Vehicles for Listening Skill

E-learning sources play a vital role in improving Listening Skill.  Listening is the most ignored one among all the 4 basic language skills, whereas it is the first receptive skill.  Being so, it has to be delivered to the learners in an interesting and interactive way. 

This workshop goes through the topics of ‘Traditional method of Listening, Ways to make it interesting, Basic principles of classroom, Technological trends of today’s generation etc.  It will make the participants examine ‘what we are teaching’ and ‘what the students are doing’, and ‘role of e-learning through English labs in improving listening skill’.  The participants will also be exposed to a variety of audio and video clips to make sure the effectiveness. The workshop will give a clear idea to its participants about how to incorporate the e-learning sources in improving the listening skill of the learners.