Applying the Skill of Inferring to Learning Vocabulary : A Call to Move from Details to Discourse

Learners need to develop the skill of inferring in order to ascertain the meaning of unknown vocabulary. They would be well advised to supplement the task of consulting the dictionary, by making reference to the contextual clues provided by language in use. Vocabulary can be acquired through multiple encounters in meaningful discourse. Current English language pedagogy fosters a reliance on translation and vocabulary lists as means of promoting vocabulary acquisition. This pedagogy suggests there is a ready equivalence between lexical items in Japanese and English. Learners need to be taught to connect the dots to become active participants in the process of meaning-making.

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