Challenges learners have with vocabulary

Now you’re going to hear what Marie Therese, Monica and our learners and teachers think about vocabulary. Watch the video and make a list of the things they say are challenging with vocabulary and how these can be overcome.

Task

One of the ways of helping learners with vocabulary is through word games. Choose a set of words related to a topic, eg weather (rain, sun, snow, wind, cloud, drizzle), fruit (apple, pear, banana, orange), clothes (coat, trousers, shirt, blouse, skirt), houses (bungalow, cottage, mansion, villa, flat) etc, and create your own word game.

You can use one of these websites:

(To open a link in a new tab, hold ‘Ctrl’ [or ‘Command’ on a Mac] when you click it.)

• ProProfs.com

• Puzzlemaker

• The Teacher’s Corner

• Armored Penguin

When you have made your game write a comment and, if you have a link, put it in the comment so others can try your game.

Look at another learner’s game and try to solve it. Why do you think learners enjoy these types of activities and why are they useful for helping with vocabulary? Write your ideas in the comments.