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If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t you—it’s the traditional "present-practice-produce" model.
Present vocabulary in chunks . Instead of "take," teach "take a break," "take a photo," "take it easy." Use corpus-based tools like Google Ngram or just ask: "What other words live next to this one?" 3. The 7 Encounters Rule (The "Noticing" Hypothesis) One of Thornbury’s most cited takeaways: A learner needs to encounter a new word at least 7 times in different contexts before it moves from short-term to long-term memory. how to teach vocabulary thornbury pdf
So tomorrow, don’t hand out a list. Build a word web. Ask for a personal connection. And remember—your students need to touch that word seven times before they own it. Search for "Scott Thornbury How to Teach Vocabulary PDF" on academic databases or ELT forums. Better yet, look for his blog "An A-Z of ELT" for daily micro-lessons. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone
What’s your biggest struggle with teaching vocabulary? Drop it in the comments—let’s solve it together. Instead of "take," teach "take a break," "take
Don’t present vocabulary alphabetically or thematically in a simple list. Instead, use mind maps , word webs , and semantic grids . Connect fast to quick , rapid , swift —but also to its opposites ( slow ) and common partners ( fast food, fast car ). 2. Don’t Teach Meaning – Teach Context (The "Lexical Approach" Light) Thornbury emphasizes that words rarely operate alone. A student might know the word run , but fail to understand run a company , run out of time , or runny nose . Meaning is derived from collocation (words that go together).
Use low-stakes quizzes , "brain dumps" (write down all the words you remember from last class), and "backwards" tasks (give the definition, ask for the word). Don't just re-read the list—that’s passive. 7. Word Cards That Actually Work Thornbury doesn’t dismiss memorization entirely—he just wants it done intelligently. The classic "L1 on one side, L2 on the other" is weak because it lacks context.
