총체적 언어 학습을 통한 어휘 습득의 실제

Effective methods for building vocabulary in Middle school English curricula

When grammar used to be the focus of language training in school, memorizing vocabulary with drills and exercises was also strongly emphasized. However as linguists blamed the grammar-based language training method for the students lack of ability to communicate in English, and replaced that with a new method that focuses on content, tasks, or interaction, the emphasis on vocabulary building, along with the strict grammar structure slowly disappeared. It is a pity, since words are basic building blocks of language. In fact, at a survival level of language, one or two appropriate words strung together without any grammar is often enough to make oneself understood. Thus, vocabulary building should be emphasized in language training, not as boring lists of words out of context, but as words incorporated into a cross curricula to allow the students to practice the new words and learn them in concrete context. For example, the unit of "What food do you like?" could be linked to a chapter in home economics "Food and nutrition" perfectly. Students should continuously learn new words and then apply them to other subjects they are learning wherethe words are relevant. This is especially important as English is a foreign language for Korean students and they have little chance for exposure to the language. The researcher in this paper discusses teaching new words in a contextual approach and suggests sample lessons to integrate middle school English 1 lessons with other subjects, such as social studies, science, music, art, home economics etc. The integration should be done in a contextual way which allows students not only to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills of the English language, but also help students to connect English with various expressions, culture, and the students' own experiences.