Techniques and Strategies to Teach English Vocabulary to EFL/ESL Students

Abstract

Teaching vocabulary can pose a challenge for educators who may lack awareness or knowledge of how to implement strategies to teach vocabulary. For this reason, this research synthesis was intended to examine certain techniques and strategies for teaching English vocabulary. The methodology employed in this synthesis involved choosing and examining 21 papers centered on the research topic. The collected articles were thoroughly examined by comparing and contrasting them. The results suggest that vocabulary teaching should not involve mere memorization, but the use of memory should be accompanied by strategies. It was also found that certain techniques work better with young and others with adult learners, and most strategies display more advantages than disadvantages. On the whole, teachers need to be aware of which strategy best suits students’ ages and the possible combination of certain techniques. In addition, teachers should receive specialized training in teaching vocabulary.