An Exploration Of Vocabulary Teaching in Primary Schools With Special Reference to Grades One and two

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Date

1998-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The study is carried out in primary schools, which have not been given due attention. More specifically, it attempts to explore the teaching of vocabulary in grades one and two. The subjects of the study, teachers as well as students, are from old and well established government primary schools in Addis Ababa. The data for the study are collected from a questionnaire, classroom observations, interviews and a vocabulary test. First, data are collected from the questionnaire distributed to teachers. Then teachers are interviewed on their use of the different techniques of vocabulary teaching. Subsequently, teachers are observed teaching vocabulary. Students are also asked what their reaction to vocabulary teaching is, after the observations. Finally, students are given a vocabulary test to find out how effective the techniques used by teachers in teaching vocabulary are. The data collected from the questionnaire, the classroom observations and the test are seen in relation to one another to find out which techniques are more frequently used and more effective in teaching the meaning of words in grades one and two. The findings show that pictures, picture cards, blackboard drawings and real objects are more frequented and effective techniques of vocabulary teaching in grades one and two. On the bases of these findings, it is recommended that, since they are teaching young children, teachers in grades one and two should use real objects (realia) as most of the vocabulary items in the syllabi can be better taught this way.

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Keywords

Vocabulary Teaching

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