Essential Strategies: Vocabulary Acquisition

…the cumulative process of intentionally learning and internalizing new words to communicate effectively in a language.

Deliberate or explicit vocabulary instruction is essential as it is a “more efficient way” to build the robust word knowledge required for academic success, especially for learners who do not naturally encounter rich language environments.

While much vocabulary is learned through daily life, research highlights several key reasons for intentional teaching:

Develops “Word Consciousness”: Teaching words intentionally fosters an interest in and awareness of how language works, turning students into “word detectives” who are more likely to notice and learn new words on their own.

Deliberate instruction acts as an equity tool to level the playing field for students from different linguistic backgrounds. Explicitly teaching significant words gives students the specific tools needed to understand complex texts.

Studies show that readers need to understand approximately 95% to 98% of the words in a text to comprehend it independently. Deliberate instruction before reading provides the “Velcro” for new information to stick to.

Accelerated Learning for MLLs: Intentional and explicit instruction of significant academic terms accelerates English fluency and academic success.