skkn TEACHING VOCABULARY IN a READING LESSON GRADE 11

Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DEPARTEMENT OF DONG NAI PROVINCE
PHUOC THIEN HIGH SCHOOL
CODE: ………………

EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE
TEACHING VOCABULARY IN
A READING LESSON GRADE 11
Written by: VÕ ĐÌNH PHƯỚC
Research area:
Education management:……………… 
English teaching method: English …… 
Other fields:……….…………………… 

Enclosed with:
Model  software 

Film and picture 

other related things

SCHOOL YEAR: 2012-2013

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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

CURRICULUM
I. PERSONAL INFORMATION
1. Full name: Võ Đình Phước
2. Date of birth: 18th October, 1980
3. Male / female: Male
4. Address: Hamlet 5, Hiep Phuoc village, Nhon Trach district, Dong Nai
province
5. Phone number: 0907 91 91 92
6. Fax:
Email:
7. Career: English Teacher
8. Work at: Phuoc Thien High School
II. EDUCATION
- University: B.A in English
- Year graduated: 2005
- Trained specialty: English
III. EXPERIENCE
- Experienced professional field:
- Year of Teaching : 8
- Recently written theme: Developing reading skill

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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

FOREWORD
Changing teaching in education is the right action of teachers and students in
teaching and learning process. The change is always understood by carrying out
some specific forms. Forms and ways to make them happen do not completely
separate. The method of teaching is the forms and performances of teachers and
students in the teaching conditions in order to achieve the purpose of teaching. The
method of teaching is the form and the performance by which teachers and students
perceive the reality and nature of the society around specific learning conditions.
Only when fundamental methods of teaching and learning are improved, we
can create real innovation in education so as to train new generations with
activeness and innovation who are the potentially competitive intelligence force in
the context of many countries around the world heading towards knowledge
economy.
In all subjects and especially in English at general education, innovative
methods which must bring the result of promoting the positive, creative selfinitiative of students, are based on the characteristics of each class, subject , support
self-learning method, the ability to work in teams, use skills to apply knowledge in
practice, impact emotion, bring joy and excitement for learning. The core of
innovative teaching and learning activities is towards active learning, against
passive learning habits.
The goal of education for all times especially during the current phase is to
focus and promote positive, energetic and creative students, making students getting
knowledge passively become the ones getting knowledge actively with the ability of
solving problems or tasks assigned the best effectively.
In 04 basic skills: listening – speaking – reading - writing of English for
grade 11 in the program division, reading skills play a key role of enriching English
vocabulary for learners. Students often have difficulty of understanding a common

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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

reading because of some new vocabularies. When encountering new words, they
often stop to look up a dictionary. This takes a lot of time to complete a reading.
Reading texts often contain many new words. Students often find there are
too many new words in reading texts because they forget or miss a word of those so
they often feel confused before a comprehension exercise. That is why the teacher's
guide is very necessary. Meanwhile, the current teaching method is to make student
find their own way of learning, teacher is only a guide to show them how to read
rather than prepare all for them. But how to get the students interested in reading a
story or a topic in English? This is one of tasks that is also very important
requirement for teachers to help students get excited about this subject.
Teaching process in English grade 11 in high school, I would like to express
some ways to teach vocabulary effectively so that students can overcome
difficulties in vocabulary
B. CONTENTS
I. SHOW STUDENTS THE WAYS TO FIND THE MEANING OF NEW
WORDS IN READING LESSON
1. Preparation
Before starting a new lesson, both the teacher and students have good
preparation. When teaching reading comprehension, the teacher should tell the
students the ways to prepare the lesson, new words, find the family words or build
sentences with some words having in the lesson. Depending on the levels of each
class and students, the teacher has different requests. Therefore, the teacher gives
the student exercises, the students have to take responsibilities to do them. Then
step by step, the students have good habits in learning themselves, doing research,
and they think that studying English becomes more and more interesting.

2. Choose words to teach
Normally, a reading text always appears some new words, but it is not
necessary to teach all of them and teach them in the same ways. The teacher should

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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

choose words which need teaching. Choosing words to teach, the teacher has to
consider some following problems.
- Active and passive vocabulary
Active words are words which students know and use in communicating or
writing.
Passive words are word which students only know and understand when they
read a text.
The ways to teach two forms of these words are not the same. Active words
relate to 4 basic skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. The teacher,
therefore, needs to spend more time presenting and practising, specially the
ways to use the words. To passive ones, however, students can only know and
students don’t need to spend much time using them. So the teacher should
choose and decide which words are taught as active words or passive ones.
To save much time, the teacher always endures what he/ she will teacheswords students haven’t known. To avoid teaching words which are unnecessary,
the teacher should check students’ understanding by asking some questions or
asking students to give examples with the new words.
If the new words are very important to understand the content of the passage
and suitable for the level of students, the teacher should explain vocabulary
actively. If the words are not important but they make the students get

difficulties, the students should be taught passively- the teacher explain the new
words or translate them quickly. The teacher asks the students to guess the
meaning of new words if the words are important and easy in the passage. And
the teacher can ignore if the words are difficult and strange and they are not
related to the passage.
The teacher should mark the words which he/ she can ask students to guess
the meaning of new words. Students should be told some following ways to
guess the meaning of new words. Moreover, students should pay much attention
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

to the words whether they are repeated and repeated or not and compare their
using in different contexts. Besides, students also use some knowledge about
prefixes, suffixes to define their part of speech. Noun usually stand behind
articles or possessive adjectives…Proper names, places… can be defined by
capital letters. Adjectives, adverbs is usually realized their positions in sentences
When seeing new words, students should continue reading. Most of the
students usually stop reading when seeing new words students cannot know their
meaning. However, most suggestions help students to guess the meaning of
vocabulary within the limits from 5 to 10 words before or after the new words.
Therefore, the teacher should ask students read words near new words carefully and
check affixes to guess the meaning of new words. Students need to spend much
time practising and applying to these techniques step by step. Some good students
teach themselves to improve reading skill, others are showed by the teacher. So the
teacher has to show students ways to guess the meaning of new words.
3. Some elements should be explained when the teacher teaches vocabulary.

If the teacher only writes and explains vocabulary following dictionary, most
students cannot understand the ways to use the words in communicating and
specially with active words. Besides, students have to know not only the way to
pronounce words, but also the way to pronounce phrases. Moreover, students know
the meaning of new words and how to use them.
a. Teaching vocabulary combined with pronunciation
When students can pronounce new words well, they will write the words
correctly. So the teacher should teach the students the best ways to read the words
exactly.
b. Guessing meaning from the context
Context is a sentence, sentences which explain or definite new words.
Therefore, when students want to know new words, they should read the whole
context. This can help students to know more about vocabulary or their part of
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

speech such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs… In addition, context also helps
students to realize some suggestions about the meaning of new words without
stopping reading to look up the dictionary, which makes students read more quickly
and better.
 Example: You do something to help other people without benefit. You are
volunteer
What does “volunteer” mean?
(Unit 4: Volunteer work)
c. Show the meaning of new words:
There are some basic ways to explain the meaning of new words:

- Using real objects.
 Example: When explaining the word dart in Unit 14, the teacher can take the
toys of dart to demonstrate the vocabulary.
- Using situations.
- Using prefixes/ suffixes, root words.
- Using spoken languages.

II. SOME WAYS TO TEACH VOCABULARY IN A READING LESSON
1. Pre-reading
There are many ways used in this activity. The teacher can choose each suitable
way for each lesson.
a. Open Prediction :
The teacher show the topic and asks students to guess what the content of
reading is
 Example: Unit 6: Competitions
- The teacher asks some students to put questions to other students by using yes/
no questions to guess the meaning of vocabulary:
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

+ Is the word a verb?
+ Is it a noun?
+ Does it begin with “c”?
+ To work with weak students, the teacher should give some more suggestions:
Does it have 11 letters? or Is it about an animal/ a plant…?
- The students take turns to put questions and the student who gives the correct

answer with the shortest time will be the winner.
b. Crossword Puzzle
Dividing class into 3 or 4 groups, the teacher delivers hand-outs and asks
students to fill in each blank with some words given.
 Example: Unit 7: Population

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
CLUES:
1. an area of public land in a town or a city where people go to walk, play and relax
2. the noun of “poor”
3. attractive without being very beautiful
4. without a job although able to work
5. a group of students who are taught together
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

6. (of men) attractive

7. feeling that you would like to sleep or rest
8. not knowing how to read or write
9. not young
10. the synonym of “country”
Answers: 1. park

6. handsome

2. poverty

7. tired

3. pretty

8. illiterate

4. unemployed

9. old

5. class

10. nation

c. Odering:
The teacher shows some pictures and asks students to arrange them in correct
order.
 Example: The teacher asks all students to look at the pictures in the textbook
grade 11, unit 2, and page 22 and arrange them in correct order. ( 1.d, 2.b, 3.f, 4.e,
5.a, 6.c)

2. While reading
Generally, a reading lesson usually has some new words, and all of them cannot
be explained in the same way. The teacher needs to select and decides which words
are active and others are passive.
SOME BASIC WAYS TO SHOW THE MEANING OF NEW WORDS:
a. Using real objects:
The teacher can use real objects in class or take some pictures, diagrams…to
classroom or draw some pictures on the board. Besides, the teacher can use body
languages
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

 Example:
- Gestures:

swimming, driving a car, accompanying

- Pictures:

Pole vaulting

Fencing

Hockey

The teacher can show the pictures or real things to teach new words, which

helps students understand and interest in learning vocabulary. By this way, students
can remember vocabulary for a long time and feel more attracted to study it.

b. Using situations
The teacher can use some situations in classroom or outside classroom to show
the meaning of new words.
 Example: To explain the meaning of the word behind or the phrase in front
of , the teacher can point at a schoolboy sitting behind or in front of a schoolgirl
and say “Nam is sitting behind or in font of Lan”
c. Using prefixes/ suffixes, root words:
This is also a good and easy way to teach vocabulary. The teacher can use
prefixes or suffixes to show the meaning of new words. By using this way, the
teacher can use some usual prefixes such as un-(not), re-(again), il-(not), dis-(not)
…..
Ex: Happy

=> unhappy

Tell

=> retell

Legal

=> illegal

Honest

=> dishonest
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

The teacher, in addition, can use suffixes to teach vocabulary such as –able
(can), -er/or (person)…..
Ex: Port

=> portable

Manage

=> manager

Visit

=> visitor

Furthermore, the teacher can use root words to teach vocabulary. Try to use
common roots with common words. This way must be repeated and repeated day by
day. The teacher ought to do it slowly and frequently. Some common roots: trans
(move, go), pect (see) …..
Ex: Trans
Pect

=> transport/ translate
=> respect/ expect

d. Using spoken languages
The teacher can use both Vietnamese and English to show the meaning of new
words. The teacher can use definition forms, synonyms or antonyms.
 Example:
- Definition : representative means a person chosen or appointed on behalf
another person or a group
- Synonym:

- Antonym:

astronaut

=

spaceman

prohibit

=

ban

appear

#

disappear

independent #

dependent

• In addition, the teacher can use other ways to help students guess the meaning of
vocabulary.
- When meeting new words, students must continue to read to understand
other words around new words.
- Proper names  usually written in capital letter
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

- Adjectives, adverbs

3. Post reading
• Students will understand the meaning of vocabulary and know how to use them.
• Students can improve their ability to guess the meaning of new words and take
form the ability to read the text themselves.
• There are some exercises applied to practise studying vocabulary:
a) Matching
 Example: Unit 13: HOBBY
A
1. accomplish (v)

B
a. things you do regularly for pleasure in your free time

2. accomplished (a)

b. complete successfully

3. accompany (v)

c. regard sb / sth with respect

4. admire (v)

d. to play music for a singer or another instrument

5. discard (v)

e. throw away

6. modest (adj)

f. skilled, well-trained

7. hobby (n)

g. not large in size ; not expensive

Answer keys: 1.b, 2.f, 3.d, 4.c, 5.e, 6.g, 7.a
b) Blank filling
 Example: Unit 16: The wonders of the world
Exercise : Fill each blank with a suitable word, using the words below.
mysterious

ramp

tomb

chamber

spiral

wonder

1. Last week we paid a visit to the …………………… of an unknown mandarin.
2. The movie was about a ………………..…… of the world.
3. A ……………….…… is needed at the exit and entrance for wheelchairs users.
4. The Queen’s private ………………………. is not opened to public.
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

5. It’s not known why Beson disappeared in ………………………...circumstances.
6. A nail’s shell is ………………………….. in form.
Answer: 1. tomb 2. wonder 3. ramp 4. chamber 5. mysterious 6. spiral

c) Arrangement (jumbled words)
 Example: Unit 8: Celebrations
The teacher gives some jumbled words and asks students to arrange them in
correct order.
1. sigfs
2. loetip

3. trationdinal
4. texeciment
Answer keys:
1. gifts
2. polite
3. traditional
4. excitement
I think that classroom will become more lively and attractive with this way
B. RESULT AFTER APPLYING THE RESEARCH IN TEACHING
The table below expresses clearly the differences in the student’s attitude
towards the ways to study a reading lesson. Before applying the research in
teaching, most students don’t feel easy to read a passage or a text, but they are quite
easy and attracted to read a passage or a text. They are eager to read any passage
they meet.
Number Before applying the
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After applying the


Phuoc Thien high school

Class

of

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

research in teaching

research in teaching

students
11A1
45
About 49% of students take About 81% of students take
11A8

39

part in the lessons actively
part in the lessons actively
About 33% of students take About 64% of students take
part in the lessons actively

part in the lessons actively

C. CONCLUSION:
Many scholars studying foreign languages indicated that languages are
related to people’s behavior and personality. Studying foreign languages, therefore,
must pay much attention to study hard with both learners’ attitudes and high spirit.
It is the most important to study a foreign language well. Moreover, to encourage
students to read faster and more interesting, the teacher needs to use some suitable
ways to help students overcome difficulties in vocabulary. At once, studying
themselves, students will understand the new words more carefully and memorize
them for a long time. Then, students feel interested in the subject that they are
studying. Besides, students also have a good chance to improve other skills such as
listening, speaking, writing… In addition, some ways to lead to the lesson: pre/
while/ post, students are very excited with what they will read, which relies on
students’ available knowledge.

D. PROPOSING MOTIONS
The topic “Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11” is written to
share my experience in teaching vocabulary. The teacher can apply different ways
for different words and they depends on the teacher own ways. I think that each
teacher will have good ways to teach vocabulary in particular and teach English in
general.
I hope that our school should have lab rooms, pictures, films for students
practice all skills of learning English.
I also hope my colleagues will give me some comments because of my
shortcomings.
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

I hope the teacher will be successful.

Written by

Vo Dinh Phuoc

INDEX

Page

A. FOREWORD

01

B. CONTENTS

02

I. SHOW STUDENTS THE WAYS TO FIND

02

THE MEANING OF NEW WORDS IN READING LESSON
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

1. Preparation

02

2. Choose words to teach

02

3. Some elements should be explained when the teacher teaches vocabulary. 04
II. SOME WAYS TO TEACH VOCABULARY IN

05

A READING LESSON
1. Pre-reading

05

2. While reading

07

3. Post reading

10

B. RESULT AFTER APPLYING THE RESEARCH IN TEACHING

11

C. CONCLUSION

12

D. PROPOSING MOTIONS

12

REFERENCE MATERIALS
1. Book: “Những vấn đề chung về đổi mới giáo dục Trung học phổ thông môn
tiếng Anh” (Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo)- NXB Giáo Dục
2. Some pictures from Internet
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Phuoc Thien high school

Teaching vocabulary in a reading lesson grade 11

3. Some materials from training courses
4. Textbook: “Tiếng Anh-11” (Bộ Giáo Dục và Đào Tạo)-NXB Giáo Dục

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