The Kinds of Vocabulary
According to Jeremy Harmer, there are seven techniques in presenting vocabulary:
a. Realia One way of presenting words is to bring the things they
represent into the classroom by bringing “Realia” into the
room. Words like “postcard”, “pen”, “ball”, etc. can obviously be presented in this way. The teacher holds up the object or
points to it, says the words and then gets the students to repeat it.
b. Picture Pictures can be board drawing, wall pictures and charts,
flashcards, magazine pictures and any other non-technical visual presentation. Picture can be used to explain the meaning
of vocabulary items: teachers can draw things on the board or bring in pictures.
c. Mime, Action, and Gesture It is often impossible to explain the meaning of words and
grammar either through the use of realia or picture. Actions, in particular, are probably better explained by mime. Concepts
like running or smoking are easy to present in this way.
d. Contrast We saw how words exist because of their sense relations and
this can be used to teach meaning. We can present the meaning of “empty” by contrasting it with “full”. We may present these
concepts with pictures or mime, and by drawing attention to the contrast in meaning we ensure our students’ understanding.
e. Enumeration We can use this to present meaning. We can say „clothes’ and
explain this by enumerating or listing various items. The same is true of „vegetable’ or „furniture’, for example.
f. Explanation Explaining the meaning of vocabulary items can be very
difficult, especially at beginner and elementary levels. But with more intermediate students such a technique can be used. It is
worth remembering that explaining the meaning of a word must include explaining and facts of words use which are
relevant.
g. Translation Translation is a quick and easy way to present the meaning of
words but it is not without problems. In the first place it is not always easy to translate words, and in the second place, even
where translation is possible, it may make it a bit too easy for
students by discouraging them from interacting with the words.
6
Based on Adrian Doff, the techniques in teaching vocabulary, they are: a. Say the word clearly and write it on the board
b. Get the class to repeat the word in chorus c.
Translate the word into the student’s own language d. Ask students to translate the word
e. Draw a picture to show what the word means f. Give an English example to show how the word is used
g. Ask question using the new word.
7
From statement above the writer gives a little clarification that some basic techniques for showing the meaning of words are:
o Writing noun words on the board: “pen”, “book”, etc. now the
question is how the students can easily understand the meaning of the words? In this case many ways to explain about that, for
example: o
By showing the real object of pen, book etc. o
By showing pictures. This way can be done by drawing picture of pen, book, and pencil on the board and by showing pictures pen,
book, pencil, which have been already prepared before photograph or drawing.
o Writing verb words on the board, like as “sit”, “open”, “close” etc.
the question is how the students can easily understand about these words. For this case the teacher can not show to the students the
things because this is not a noun, so the teacher shows the students by practicing the words or the teacher can show he pictures about
activity that related to the words of “sit”, “open”, “close”.
6
Jeremy Harmer, The Practice of English Language Teaching New Edition, London: Longman, 1991, p. 161-162
7
Adrian Doff, Teach English a Training Course for Teacher on Teacher’s Work Book,
New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988, p. 1
o Writing adjective words on the board, like as: “Happy”, “Sad”, etc.
So, how do the students can understand these words easily? In these case the teacher use the mime or the teacher can give to them
example some one is crying, it means sad.or the teacher show the pictures about activities that related to the words of “happy”,
“Sad”.
From explanation above the general points about presenting vocabulary visual is using real objects, mime or pictures, but from all of
the explanation above using pictures is more affective, because the teacher can explain something, as noun, verb or adjective.
There are many kinds of techniques in presenting vocabulary to the English learners such as mentioned above. The writer summarizes that the
way in teaching vocabulary in English classroom is depend on the teacher to choose the best way in order to make students feel enjoy and does not
make them feel bored, because teacher as a facilitator has to be able to choose a good techniques to teach vocabulary.