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The Educational Review, USA

ISSN Print: 2575-7938 Downloads: 452566 Total View: 4843545
Frequency: monthly ISSN Online: 2575-7946 CODEN: TERUBB
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Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2024.12.016

Vocabulary Teaching in College from the Perspective of Semantics

Fengping Cheng

Fuzhou Technology and Business University, Fuzhou 350715, Fujian, China.

*Corresponding author: Fengping Cheng

Published: January 14,2025

Abstract

Vocabulary teaching has always been the cornerstone of traditional English education, forming the foundation upon which more advanced language skills are built. It is of paramount importance not only in traditional, text-based classrooms but also in those that adopt multimedia or communicative teaching methods. These diverse teaching styles, each with its own strengths and approaches, all recognize the critical role that vocabulary plays in enabling students to communicate effectively in English. However, despite the advancements in teaching methodologies and the increasing complexity of language learning materials, it is still common to find college students heavily relying on the vocabulary they acquired in middle school. In response to this challenge, this paper delves into the various strategies for vocabulary teaching in college English. It explores the concept of semantic fields, which group words together based on their meanings and usage, helping students build a more coherent and interconnected vocabulary. The paper also discusses collocational theory, which examines the patterns of word combinations that occur naturally in language. Furthermore, the paper considers the importance of semantic features, which refer to the specific characteristics of a word that define its meaning. By focusing on these features, educators can help students to differentiate between similar words and to understand the nuances of meaning that exist within the English language. The paper also touches on associative meaning, which refers to the additional layers of meaning that words can carry based on their cultural, historical, and personal contexts. By exploring these associations, students can develop a deeper understanding of the language and its complexities. Finally, the paper discusses lexical relations, which describe the relationships between words within a language. These relationships can include synonyms, antonyms, hyponyms, and hypernyms, and by understanding them, students can expand their vocabulary more effectively and develop a more nuanced understanding of language structure and usage.

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How to cite this paper

Vocabulary Teaching in College from the Perspective of Semantics

How to cite this paper: Fengping Cheng. (2024). Vocabulary Teaching in College from the Perspective of Semantics. The Educational Review, USA8(12), 1515-1519.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2024.12.016