LSMVOR-The Teaching and Learning of Vocabulary

Module Provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: m.daller@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

To review a comprehensive range of pedagogical issues related to how vocabulary may be tested and taught to learners of a second/foreign language * To consider the teacher's role in helping learners to learn, store and use L2 vocab effectively * To review a comprehensive range of research issues and findings related to how learners learn, use, and store vocabulary, and especially cope with insufficient knowledge of it * To sharpen ability to review and evaluate published work in this area - findings, argumentation and research methods, and identify researchable problems

Aims:

• To review a comprehensive range of pedagogical issues related to how vocabulary may be tested and taught to learners of a second/foreign language
• To consider the teacher's role in helping learners to learn, store and use L2 vocab effectively
• To review a comprehensive range of research issues and findings related to how learners learn, use, and store vocabulary, and especially cope with insufficient knowledge of it
• To sharpen ability to review and evaluate published work in this area - findings, argumentation and research methods, and identify researchable problems

Assessable learning outcomes:
To provide a firmer understanding of:

• Vocabulary knowledge
• Identifying vocabulary for a course
• Amount and rate of vocabulary teaching/learning
• Presenting meaning and form new words
• Assessing learners' vocabulary
• Self-learning strategies
• The vocabulary store, e.g.: inter-language/bilingual mental lexicon
• The aspects of word knowledge we need to teach/learn
• Incidental acquisition via use or communicatio n
• Forgetting and attrition

Additional outcomes:
Also, students develop expertise in collating and reconciling disparate scholarly information on the same research topic; understand and constructively criticize research by others; link practical research to theory; spot 'gaps' in available information about learner vocabulary behaviour; and, formulate plans for research. This course does not directly train people to be better vocabulary learners or teachers, but it is likely that the experience of the course would have some effect on these.

Outline content:
The following topics will be introduced and discussed: what teachers need to know before teaching, how to present vocabulary when teaching, how meaning is presented, how form is presented, practice, how vocabulary is stored (along with mental lexicon), receptive and productive issues, acquisition issues, the lexical approach.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching is delivered via 120 minute sessions, plus hand-outs (and occasional advice) via email and consultation hours. Subject to the limitations of the room and the size of the student group, the intention is to conduct the classes relatively informally and interactively and much of the classwork is based round group work and discussion tasks. Learning additionally is achieved by students using library and self-access webpage resources, and reading and thinking around the tasks done in class .

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
A 3,000-4,000 word assignment on a selected topic. This piece of work constitutes 67% of the module mark
In addition students will write an extended annotated bibliography. This piece of work constitutes 33% of the module mark.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-examination by 1 September in the year in which the course is taken.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 4 April 2020