Vocabulary-Building Support at Home

Supporting vocabulary building at home is crucial for the language development and academic success of English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners. Recent research highlights several key points regarding the importance of vocabulary-building support for EAL learners. Firstly, vocabulary knowledge is strongly associated with academic achievement for EAL learners (Braze et al., 2018), particularly in reading comprehension. Additionally, it is fundamental to language proficiency and vocabulary size, which significantly predicts language proficiency among EAL learners. It contributes to excellent language proficiency (Chen & Geva, 2016). Building a robust vocabulary also enhances EAL learners' communication skills in academic and social contexts as they become more confident and proficient communicators (Mann & Foy, 2019). Moreover, learning English vocabulary related to cultural norms and everyday activities can facilitate their adjustment to a new environment (Zhou, 2020). Furthermore, utilizing the advancement of technology provides digital learning resources designed to support vocabulary development in EAL learners (Fujii et al., 2021).

Active parental involvement in vocabulary-building activities at home has been linked to better language outcomes for EAL learners (Kuo et al., 2019). Some of the practical and effective strategies for supporting vocabulary building at home for English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners are the following:

1. Interactive Reading: Engage in interactive reading activities where you ask questions about the story and discuss the meanings of new words encountered (Gibbons, 2015).

2. Word Games and Apps: Use word games and educational apps designed to enhance vocabulary skills in a fun and interactive way (Larson, 2021).

3. Labeling Household Items: Label everyday household items with their English names to reinforce vocabulary learning through visual cues (Johnson & Christie, 2020).

4. Word Walls: Create a word wall with new vocabulary words learned each week and review them regularly with your child (Walters & Schafer, 2017).

5. Cooking Together: Involve your child in cooking activities, discussing ingredients and cooking processes to introduce new vocabulary related to food and cooking (Kwok & Sullivan, 2018).

6. Community Outings: Take advantage of community outings such as visiting the library, zoo, or museum to expose your child to new vocabulary in real-world contexts (Kuo et al., 2019).

These practical strategies, supported by recent research, can help EAL learners build vocabulary at home, contributing to their language development and academic success. Written By: Ms. Alleli EAL (alleli.fajardo@sph.ac.id)

Resources:

Braze, D., Tabor, W., Shankweiler, D. P., & Mencl, W. E. (2018). Speaking up for vocabulary: Reading skill differences in young adults. Journal of Research in Reading, 41(4), 981-996.

Chen, X., & Geva, E. (2016). Vocabulary knowledge and morphological awareness in Chinese-speaking young English language learners: Longitudinal associations. Applied Psycholinguistics, 37(6), 1261-1287.

Mann, A., & Foy, P. (2019). The language and literacy skills developed by English language learners: Insights from a longitudinal study. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 22(3), 271-285.

Zhou, H. (2020). Vocabulary Learning Strategies Employed by Chinese Learners of English as a Foreign Language in a High School Setting. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 579797.

Kuo, L. J., Uchikoshi, Y., & Kim, A. Y. (2019). English vocabulary development among bilingual Chinese-English preschoolers: A longitudinal investigation. Reading and Writing, 32(9), 2285-2307.

Fujii, Y., Kitaoka-Higashiguchi, K., & Kitamura, K. (2021). Developing EFL vocabulary skills with technology: A review of mobile applications. CALL-EJ, 22(1), 1-25.

Cunningham, A. E., & Stanovich, K. E. (1997). Early reading acquisition and its relation to reading experience and ability 10 years later. Developmental Psychology, 33(6), 934-945.

Gibbons, P. (2015). English learners, academic literacy, and thinking: Learning in the challenge zone. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Larson, L. C. (2021). Enhancing English vocabulary learning through the use of educational apps. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 24(1), 44-56.

Johnson, J., & Christie, F. (2020). Supporting young English language learners' language development: A whole-child approach. International Journal of Early Childhood, 52(2), 145-160.

Walters, J., & Schafer, P. (2017). The effect of interactive word walls on vocabulary development: A systematic review. Literacy Research and Instruction, 56(1), 34-50.

Kwok, E., & Sullivan, A. (2018). Multimodal representation in digital cookbooks: Understanding the potential to support English language learners. International Journal of Multilingualism, 15(4), 399-416.