Using Vocabulary Notebooks to Collect Words : A Notebook Sample

Abstract

Students often ignore unknown words (Paribakht and Wesche, 1993, cited in Paribakht and Wesche, 1997, pp. 176-177). Therefore, if a student wants to increase her vocabulary size, she will need to make a conscious effort to notice unknown words, and not just do what is easiest-pass them over. This is why a vocabulary notebook with explicit instructions and thorough training on its use is necessary. The vocabulary notebook, however, sometimes cannot be used to memorize words. Memorizing words from a vocabulary notebook can be an ineffective means of learning vocabulary because of the insufficient amount of forced recall and negative effects of serial learning it induces. To address these needs, a vocabulary notebook that is designed much in the same way as the one presented in this paper is advised. The sample presented takes into consideration that a vocabulary notebook should aid in the collection of unknown words, not just their memorization.