L4_4_Mastering Vocabulary for Reading Comprehension

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Mastering Vocabulary

for C1/C2

Reading Comprehension

What do you already know about the Cambridge C1 English Reading and Use of English test?

What should you be able to do?

You should be able to understand and use complex language structures and vocabulary.

Explain what C1 level is and what students should expect from an English exam at this level.

Types of Vocabulary

There are several types of vocabulary such as general, academic, technical, and domain-specific vocabulary.

Introduce the different types of vocabulary and explain how they are used in reading comprehension tests.

General Vocabulary

General vocabulary includes words that are commonly used in everyday conversation and writing.

Provide examples of general vocabulary and ask students to come up with their own examples.

Academic Vocabulary

Academic vocabulary includes words that are commonly used in academic writing and textbooks.

Provide examples of academic vocabulary and ask students to come up with their own examples.

Technical Vocabulary

Technical vocabulary includes words that are specific to a particular field or profession.

Provide examples of technical vocabulary and ask students to come up with their own examples.

Domain-Specific Vocabulary

Domain-specific vocabulary includes words that are specific to a particular subject or topic.

Provide examples of domain-specific vocabulary and ask students to come up with their own examples.

Word Families

Word families are groups of words that are related in meaning or origin.

Root/Base Word: connect (verb) - to join or link together.

Word Family Members:

connection (noun) - a link or relationship.

connected (adjective/past participle) - linked; joined.

connecting (present participle/adjective) - serving to link or join.

connector (noun) - something that connects.

disconnect (verb) - to break a connection. (Here, 'dis-' is a prefix meaning 'apart' or 'not')

disconnection (noun) - the act of disconnecting; a broken link.

reconnect (verb) - to connect again. (Here, 're-' is a prefix meaning 'again')

reconnection (noun) - the act of reconnecting.

connectivity (noun) - the ability to connect.

unconnected (adjective) - not connected.

Explain what word families are and provide examples. Ask students to identify word families in a list of words.

Word Formation

Word formation is the process of creating new words from existing words, e.g. prefixes, suffixes, compound words, etc.:

prefix = un- + happy = unhappy (changes meaning to opposite)

suffix = govern (verb) + -ment = government (changes to noun)

compound = sun + light is sunlight

Explain the different ways that new words can be formed such as affixation, compounding, and conversion. Provide examples.

Collocations

Collocations are words that are commonly used together in a particular language or context, e.g. empirical evidence, fundamental principals, rigorous methodology, etc.

Provide examples of collocations and ask students to identify them in a list of words or sentences.

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and one or more particles that function as a single unit, e.g. tune in, tune out, in tune with

Provide examples of phrasal verbs and ask students to identify their meanings.

Context Clues

Context clues are words or phrases in a sentence or paragraph that help the reader understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word, e.g. "She felt a great sense of elation, or extreme happiness, after winning the competition."

Explain the different types of context clues such as definition, synonym, antonym, and example. Provide examples.

Academic Word Detectives!

Objective: To use context clues and definitions to understand common academic vocabulary.

"You are a word detective! Read each sentence carefully. A 'mystery word' is underlined. Your job is to:

Read the sentence: What hints does it give you about the mystery word?

Choose the best meaning: Pick the definition from the options that makes the most sense in the sentence.

Let's find those clues!"

Provide a list of vocabulary words and their meanings. Ask students to match them correctly.

Informal to Academic English

Work with your group to choose the best wording. 

More than one answer is possible.

Provide a list of sentences with missing words. Ask students to fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word in parentheses.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned about the essential vocabulary necessary to complete reading comprehension tests for your Cambridge English exams.

Summarize the main points of the lesson and encourage students to continue practicing their vocabulary skills.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.