Learning the Vocabulary of English as a Foreign Language without Using Japanese Translations: A Step–by–Step Approach for Beginners

Hiromi Oshima; Shinpei Ogata; Kenji Kaijiri

Volume : IV, Issue : XI, November - 2015

Learning the Vocabulary of English as a Foreign Language without Using Japanese Translations: A Step–by–Step Approach for Beginners

Hiromi Oshima, Shinpei Ogata, Kenji Kaijiri

Abstract :

This study presents a new step–by–step picture–based no–Japanese–translations approach to acquiring English vocabulary for beginner students. Four days of experimental lessons were conducted with 76 seventh graders at a Japanese public junior high school. Their pronunciation skills were assessed by a native English speaker. The picture–based–pattern experimental lessons resulted in higher scores than the no–picture ones. We found that even students without special needs have difficulty learning word pronunciation, spelling, and meaning simultaneously. The results of experimental lessons clearly indicate the need for a step–by–step approach to effectively teach English vocabulary to students in the public school classroom.