INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Since comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading, the importance of vocabulary development cannot be overestimated. A robust vocabulary improves all areas of communication — listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Listening vocabulary refers to the words we need to know to understand what we hear. Speaking vocabulary consists of the words we use when we speak. Reading vocabulary refers to the words we need to know to understand what we read. Writing vocabulary consists of the words we use in writing.

In this course we will use Direct vocabulary Learning and Indirect vocabulary learning.

Direct Vocabulary Learning:

    Direct instruction helps us learn difficult words, such as words that represent complex concepts that are not part of our everyday experiences. Direct instruction of vocabulary relevant to a given text leads to better reading comprehension.

Direct instruction includes:

-Providing you with instruction in specific words that are important to your content learning or understanding of a particular texte.

-Teaching you more general word-learning strategies that you can apply to a variety of words, such as analyzing parts of words (e.g., root words)

Indirect Vocabulary Learning

We learn the meanings of most words indirectly, through everyday experiences with oral and written language. You will learn word meanings indirectly in three ways:

• Engage daily in oral language
•  Listen to some speaking section 
•  Read extensively on some articles.