Developing Vocabulary Comprehension with Vocabulary Builders
Children and adults need to have the capacity to learn and develop new words. The more one is able to enhance their vocabulary, the more likely they will be able to communicate effectively, combined with the capacity to understand what they are reading. Helping children and adults to advance in their levels of understanding with words begins with finding vocabulary builders that support their education. One of the leading options is the software application, “Ultimate Vocabulary,” a program that helps with complete comprehension of various words.
The history of vocabulary building comes from classical Latin and Greek methods, and was further developed in Prussia. Under this system, the concept of Grammar translation was used. With this exercise, students were given grammar ideals, combined with practices to memorize words and paradigms that were a part of the vocabulary words. They would then practice using these words in literature, either through translation or through everyday speech. However, it was not expected for students to remember or use these words over the long term as it was considered a mental practice for the moment and was based on the ideals of practice for discipline.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that vocabulary builders began to be recognized as an essential method for vocabulary enhancement. It was found that the concept of memorization and application only to translate classic works were not as effective in enhancing vocabulary development. At this point, students were required to put together vocabulary with grammar and apply this to speech. This was followed by the direct method, which taught words and definitions that were memorized without application to context3.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that the reform in educational needs began to take place, with pedagogy moving into more advanced fields of teaching vocabulary, reading comprehension and communication levels. Instead of vocabulary being a concept of memorization or a practice for instruction, it became one that enhanced an individual’s life through communication and reading comprehension. To do this, most pedagogical methods have found that it is essential to have ‘muscle words’ that were applied to various situations, as well as different parts of vocabulary that build off these foundational words.
To effectively stimulate vocabulary building, tools are being applied for complete application. This includes muscle words, as well as levels of comprehension used by those who are interested in the educational programs. For instance, basing lessons off levels of comprehension in reading, communicating words and meanings and moving past memorization and into an investigation of the words is essential for well-rounded results with vocabulary building4.
For this particular set of rules to be applied and to move beyond the practice of vocabulary, are vocabulary builders and tools that can be used. “Ultimate Vocabulary,” for instance, applies comprehension through investigation, comprehension and basic understanding of words. Using tools such as this allows students to learn vocabulary at a quicker speed, combined with the capacity to use words at new levels of communication and reading.
3 Coady, James, Thomas Huckin. (1997). “Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition.” Cambridge University Press: London.
4 Blasingame, James, Allen Nilsen. (2005). The Mouse that Roared: Vocabulary With Source – Based Lessons. The English Journal (94), (4).
