What's all in a word?! Vocabulary learning and teaching

Have you ever wondered how much vocabulary your students truly need to communicate effectively in a foreign language? Or whether there are ways to teach vocabulary other than simply having students memorize lists of words? Building lexical know ledge is a crucial part of language learning, which is why it’s important to understand how vocabulary is learned and retained.
This handout addresses key aspects of vocabulary instruction. Each section starts with a basic question, then offers ideas for selecting the right words, presenting them in context, and giving students the tools they need to actively use and retain the targeted vocabulary.