Abs tract: Vocabulary size is an important criterion to measure one's English proficiency. More words mean more freedom in language use. To many English learners, language skill remains difficult due to insufficient vocabulary. Both learners and teachers should be active to
find an appropriate way to improve that condition. So it is necessary to know the feature of vocabulary and some effective ways to enlarge vocabulary size.
Keywords :Vocabulary Adult Memorization
1 Introduction
Vocabulary, the building material of any language, is of ut-most importance to people’ s communication and language learn-ing. Pickett (1978) pointed to the role that vocabulary learningalways seemed the key to any language. Grammar provides theoverall patterns, and vocabulary is the material to put in thepatterns. Without grammar we can convey a little, but withoutvocabulary we can convey nothing. To adult learners, it is espe-cially true, for they are always troubled in the memory andcomprehension of vocabulary. It seems that the only way forthem to make breakthrough in English learning is the vocabularysize. Without a certain vocabulary size, the training of languageskills turns out to be in vain.
But we have sometimes tended to overlook the importanceof vocabulary. It was subordinated to other linguistic teachingand learning. Until the late 20th century, a new interest is be-ing taken in the study of vocabulary, which is considered one ofthe most important aspects of English learning and a priority isplaced on it. Scholars represented by Lewis (1993) even put for-ward that vocabulary should be the center of language teachingand learning.
2 The Characteris tic of Vocabulary Learning
How many words should one need in order to have a goodcommand of English? Vocabulary threshold is 2,000 to makecommunication possible. It seems that the threshold is not toohigh to achieve. So, many of the adult learners will choose cer-tain kind of vocabulary manual to memorize, such as Vocabularyfor CET-4. But after they finish memorizing about 2017 words,no great process can be found in their communication skill.Why? The words they have just memorized have not becometheir active words yet.
Generally, a new word turns into an active one after atleast three stages: The first stage is known as forming an acous-tic link. The second stage is probably forming a usual link.That is to say, when coming across this word in reading materi-als, one can recognize it. The third stage is the most critical. Itis to form mental image of the word. That means one can imi-tate, choose and give the reign to it freely and accurately inspeaking and writing . Most adult learners can only achieve thefirst and second stages but never reach the third stage. It is fa-tal in their English learning
3 The Feature of Adult Learners and Respons ibility ofTeachers
Most of the adult learners cannot put all their efforts intostudy due to work and family. Teachers should help them todevelop a scientific strategy.It is the teachers’ responsibility to try and get to knowtheir adult learners and know what they need. Due to our learn-ing tradition, rote learning is a strategy that Chinese learnersfeel comfortable with and trust. Teachers should consider how toutilize in a scienti，英语论文，英语毕业论文 |
