ESLC2025ONTHEMOVE

Teachers and researchers agree that students need to develop a large vocabulary and that they need to be able to use words in a wide range of contexts. Yet many students struggle to develop the second language vocabulary they need to succeed academically in school. In order to achieve this goal, opportunities for both intentional and incidental learning are required. Using studies that show the nature of vocabulary in natural contexts, I will show why students are unlikely to “pick up” the vocabulary they need in ordinary school and out of school settings.  Then, I will show how research on how vocabulary is learned has led to a set of key principles that can guide teachers and materials writers in developing intentional learning activities to support vocabulary learning in classrooms.