Vocabulary Instruction Using Cognitive Psychology Principles

Abstract

This paper explores how theories of short term memory, long term memory and depth of
processing of information can be used to build the vocabulary of third grade ESL students. The
curriculum of vocabulary instruction is designed in such a way that every week students are
given a new list of ten words but the previous word lists are also added with the new list given to
the students for that particular week. Every week students are tested on the meaning and spelling
of all the words. This helps in the reinforcement of the old word lists along with the new words.
The results of these students showed that they performed well on the vocabulary and spelling of
the words that they had learned throughout the year.