Current Trends of Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Strategies for EFL Settings

This paper sets out to examine the current vocabulary teaching and learning strategies based on research studies. It first reviews the historical development of vocabulary status in the ELT pedagogy. It then analyses the current vocabulary teaching and learning strategies by considering the strengths and weaknesses of the contextual and de-contextual perspectives of getting access to and retaining vocabulary. The analysis illustrates that effective vocabulary teaching strategies have the nature of the contextual and consolidating (2C) dimensions and dynamics. Effective vocabulary learning strategies can be illustrated by the dimensions and dynamics of a 5R model – receiving, recognizing, retaining, retrieving, and recycling. This paper further proposes a reciprocal co-ordinate model of vocabulary pedagogy, 2C-5R, for EFL classrooms, because effective vocabulary teaching strategies need to be incorporated into learners’ vocabulary learning process. Finally, recognizing the weaknesses of vocabulary teaching in class, the paper suggests an important aspect of vocabulary teaching. That is, on the one hand, teachers should explore the various dimensions and dynamics of individual approaches to learning vocabulary. On the other hand, students need to be informed of a broad range of vocabulary learning strategies.