6 Tips to Help your Students Improve their Vocabulary

Do you want to help your students enhance their vocabulary skills?

Whether you’re teaching in a classroom or virtually, building a solid vocabulary is crucial for ESL learners. Below is a list of effective ESL vocabulary activities and techniques that will support your students in expanding their lexicon both inside and outside the classroom.

1. Context is Key for Vocabulary Retention

One of the most effective ways for students to learn new vocabulary is through contextual learning. Instead of memorising word lists, encourage your students to infer the meanings of new words by examining the context in which they appear. While reading or listening to a conversation, students can guess the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the situation.

Classroom Activity:

In class, you can practice this skill by providing students with short reading passages or dialogues that contain new vocabulary. Ask them to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the surrounding text and then discuss their interpretations.

2. Encourage Daily Reading Habits

Frequent reading is one of the best ways to expose students to new vocabulary. Challenge your students to read for at least 10-15 minutes every day, either in class or as homework. The key here is to choose engaging and varied reading materials. Fiction, news articles, blogs, and even social media posts can provide valuable vocabulary exposure.

Pro Tip:

Encourage your students to read while listening to an audio version of the same text. This not only reinforces the vocabulary but also helps with pronunciation and intonation. Apps like Blinkist are excellent resources for short texts with accompanying audio. Why not set up a book club with your class, where students discuss what theyโ€™ve read during the week?

3.  Use a Vocabulary Notebook

A vocabulary notebook is a great tool for learners to systematically organise new words. Encourage students to jot down unfamiliar words, including their definitions, example sentences, synonyms, antonyms, and any helpful visual aids (like images or mnemonics). Regularly revisiting and reviewing this notebook will ensure better retention.

Classroom Activity:

Students can share entries from their vocabulary notebooks in class. Have them write sentences or dialogues using their new words to ensure proper usage in context.

4. Use Synonyms and Expand Word Choices

Once students are familiar with a word, push them to expand their vocabulary by finding and using synonyms. This not only builds a more diverse lexicon but also helps them understand subtle differences in meaning and usage.

Activity Idea:

Assign a task where students replace common words in sentences with more advanced synonyms. Then, have them read their revised sentences out loud and explain the differences in meaning, if any. This can turn into a fun group activity that builds both confidence and vocabulary.

5. Introduce a Classroom Vocabulary Box

Create a vocabulary box for your classroom. Write new words that students learn in class on pieces of paper every day. At the end of each week, use the words to play a class game. For example, you could have the students choose a few from the box and create sentences, mime the words, explain the meaning, or play a describe and guess game. Encourage students to create their own vocabulary boxes at home, which they can play with friends who are also learning English.

The vocabulary box is an interactive way to reinforce words learnt in class. Every time students encounter new words, they write them on slips of paper and place them in the box. At the end of the week, you can use the words for various fun ESL vocabulary activities like:

  • Sentence Creation: Students draw a word and create sentences using it.
  • Guess the Word: One student describes the word without saying it, and others guess.
  • Vocabulary Charades: Students act out the word, and classmates guess it.

Encourage your students to create a similar vocabulary box at home to practice with friends or family.

6. Practice Makes Perfect: Use It or Lose It

It’s often said that you need to encounter a word seven times before you can fully learn it. To reinforce new vocabulary, students need to actively use it in conversations and writing. Encourage them to incorporate new words into daily classroom discussions, role-plays, and even casual conversations.

Activity Idea:

Organise themed speaking activities where students must use a set number of new vocabulary words. This keeps the exercise fun and ensures active participation.

Additional ESL Vocabulary Activities to Try

Here are a few more ESL vocabulary activities to spice up your lessons:

  • Vocabulary Bingo: Create bingo cards with vocabulary words. When you read the definition, students mark off the corresponding word.
  • Word Association Games: Start with a word, and each student adds a word related to it. This strengthens connections between words.
  • Picture Dictionary: Students create their own picture dictionary by drawing or finding images that represent each new word they learn.

Incorporating these vocabulary-building activities will make learning fun and effective for your students. Vocabulary acquisition is a gradual process, and by using these strategies, your students will not only expand their lexicon but also gain the confidence to use new words fluently.

How to improve your vocabulary
Click to download our poster version!

We hope these tips help you and your students. Do you have any more tips to add to this list? We would love to hear them!

Please share your tips in the comments section below to help other teachers & students.

Download the poster version to hang in your classroom to help your students.

Happy teaching!