The role of context, which provides the lexical environment, has been identified as one of the crucial factors in vocabulary acquisition. This leads students to translate and memorize, but not internalize, the lexis to which they are exposed. Teachers are faced with the task of providing a means by which students can go beyond the limitation of short term memory and begin to make the lexis their own through the development of learning strategies and active use. The following is a list of activities that students have found interesting and useful in their attempts to build vocabulary. Many of the activities are based on the use of word cards.
Students write cards for each new word they encounter.
Students should be encouraged to draw pictures on the cards which will help them recall the word or phrase. The back of the card can contain a translation of the word if the teacher feels it is advisable. Attention should focus on the active and known groups for low-level learners, with passive cards added at higher levels. Next, students move on to their active category of words to play another warm-up game. Finally, a wind-down activity at the end of class allows time for questions, card writing and reviewing the target vocabulary.