The document outlines a 6-stage approach to teaching vocabulary: 1) Convey meaning using visual aids or realia, 2) Elicit the word from students, 3) Check student understanding through questions, pictures, or translations, 4) Model and drill pronunciation, 5) Consolidate the written form after checking meaning and pronunciation, 6) Practice the word through activities to reinforce understanding and long-term memory.

1. The meaning-first approach to
vocabulary teaching
Eliciting
Concept-checking
Drilling
Practice

2. Stage 1: Convey meaning
You need some way of communicating the meaning
of the word or phrase to your students.
This can be done in many ways, the most effective is
using visual aids, but this is not always possible.
Other ways are: realia, definition, translation,
situation, etc

3. Stage 2: Elicit or teach the word or
phrase
It’s important to match the meaning of a word to the
form of the word. To involve your learners and find
out what they know you should always try to elicit the
word from your students.

4. Stage 3: Check that students
understand the word or phrase
If you elicit a word from one student you need to
check that the other students in the other class
understand the word fully. You can ask questions,
show pictures, ask for Korean translations or
definitions, for example.

5. Stage 4: Model and drill the word
or phrase
Students need to know how to pronounce the word,
especially if they need it for their future job/career.
You can do this by saying the word to your students
clearly and asking them to repeat it. It’s a good idea
to do this chorally first and then ask individuals to
repeat it, so that you can check their accuracy.

6. Stage 5: Consolidate the written
word
The written form of English doesn’t help students to
pronounce the word correctly and also the written
form is more difficult to remember than hearing the
word. This stage should come after you have
checked meaning and pronunciation.

7. Stage 6: Practice the target word
Some of your students probably still don’t understand
the new word or phrase, so it’s important to
consolidate their understanding with a vocabulary
practice activity or game, e.g. role play, bingo,
hangman, etc.
It’s important to recycle the vocabulary in future
lessons to help students remember the new word or
phrase