VISUAL AIDS AS USEFUL TOOL IN TEACHING VOCABULARY IN EFL CLASSROOMS TO YOUNG LEARNERS
Keywords:
visual aids, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), language skills, young learners (YL)Abstract
This article aims to demonstrate the use of visual aids in teaching vocabulary in the EFL classroom and their impact on Young Learners. The study analyzes the effectiveness of various visual materials such as pictures, posters, postcards, word calendars, realia, charts, graphic organizers, picture books, and videos in helping Young Learners comprehend the concepts and learn effectively.
The use of visual aids in teaching can result in varied responses and expressions from young learners due to their diverse educational and cultural background. These aids aid in the comprehension of topics by illustrating their deeper meanings and pointing out similarities and differences. It is crucial for teachers to recognise that children expect visual aids in their English lessons as their day-to-day use of the language is often associated with images, colours, and sounds. Visual aids have all the essential characteristics of an effective teaching aid, and it is the responsibility of teachers to employ them in the learning process. This is because such aids enable young learners to process information using an additional sensory perception.
References
Hatch, E. & Brown, C. 1995. Vocabulary, Semantics and Language Education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
McCarthy, M.1990.Vocabulary. Oxford: OUP.
Harmer, J. 1991. The Practice of Language Teaching. London: Longman Group UK Ltd.
Porter, P. and G. Margaret, 1992. Communicating Effectively in English: Oral Communication for Non-native Speakers. 2nd ed. Boston: Heinle Publishers.
Gower, Roger and Steve Walters. Teaching Practice Handbook. Oxford: 1995.
Allen, V. F. 1983. Techniques in Teaching Vocabulary. Oxford: OUP
Grossman, Herbert. Classroom Behavior Management in a Diverse Society. Mayfield Publishing Co., Menlo Park, CA. 1995
Marzano R, Marzano J, and Pickering, D. Classroom management that works. Researchbased strategies for every teacher, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Developmen. 2003