Práctica Docente II 1

Reader’s Guide

Text 1
McCarten, J. (2007). Lessons for the Classroom. Teaching vocabulary:
Lessons from the Corpus. Lessons from the Classroom (pp. 18-25).
New York: Cambridge University Press.

Questionnaire
1. According to McCarten, what are the things that learners need to know about a word
before we can say that they have learned it?
2. What does this author refer to with active, productive, passive and receptive
vocabulary?
3. What does she mean by “chunks”?
4. Write a brief comment on each of the following principles to help students learn
vocabulary more effectively: Focus on vocabulary. Offer variety. Repeat and recycle.
Provide opportunities to organize vocabulary. Make vocabulary learning personal. Don’t
overdo it! Use strategic vocabulary in class

Text 2
Harmer, J. (2007). Teaching vocabulary. The Practice of English Language
Teaching (4ta ed., pp. 229-247). Harlow: Longman.

Questionnaire
5. Harmer (2007, p.229) says “Students need to see words in context to see how they are
used”. What are the implications for teaching?
6. According to Harmer, what’s the best way of introducing new words?
7. Why is elicitation so important when introducing new words?
8. What is a cue-response drill?
9. Harmer gives some examples of the PPP procedure (or straight arrow, following ESA) to
teach vocabulary. Could you think of another example?
10. What does he say about teaching functional language?
11. Look at the word circle on p.235. can you think of an example that you could use in the
class where you’re doing your helper practice?
12. Explain how to play the following word games: Got it. Backs to the board. Snap.
13. He also mentions three games: Pictionary, Call My Bluff and Charades. How are they
played? (You’ll need too Google them)

Text 3
Ur, P. (2009). A course in Language Teaching: Practice and theory (17th
imp., pp. 60-74). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Questionnaire
14. What needs to be taught according to Ur?
15. Why do we remember some words better than others?
16. What vocabulary-testing techniques does she mention?