Overview
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In
Vocabulary Myths-Applying Second Language Research to
Classroom Teaching, Keith Folse debunks a series of myths that many L2 teachers
hold about vocabulary—myths he believes “can be detrimental to our teaching effectiveness, and
all of them can certainly hinder our students’ second language vocabulary
learning” (160).
These myths
include the following eight ideas:
- In learning another language, vocabulary is not as important
as grammar or other areas.
- Using word lists to learn second language vocabulary is
unproductive.
- Presenting new vocabulary in semantic sets facilitates
learning.
- The use of translations to learn new vocabulary should be
discouraged.
- Guessing words from context is an excellent strategy for
learning second language vocabulary.
- The best vocabulary learners make use of one or two really
good specific vocabulary learning strategies.
- The best dictionary for second language learners is a
monolingual dictionary.
- Teachers, textbooks, and curricula cover second language
vocabulary adequately.
Folse focuses a chapter on each of these myths and
structures his discussion somewhat similarly for each chapter.
