VocaBusters

Combining cartoons, animations, sounds and diagnostic reviews to make vocabulary  fun, meaningful and memorable.

Learning vocabulary does not have to be difficult or dull. VocabBusters combines one of the best researched methods to acquire vocabulary, the Keyword Method, with animation effects to make learning easier and more fun.

The Importance of Vocabulary Acquisition:

Vocabulary acquisition is the single best indicator of intelligence and IQ (Sternberg, 1986; Ellis, 1992). Extensive portions of college entrance exams, including the SAT and ACT, use vocabulary testing as a measure to predict academic performance. Simple reading does not guarantee a good vocabulary (Sternberg, 1986) which means that strategies for acquiring vocabulary needs to be taught. Unfortunately most public schools devote little time to no time teaching students vocabulary, nor effective techniques for learning vocabulary. Therefore, many students remain ill prepared for college, and subsequently become more limited with career choices.

How the Keyword Method Works:

The target vocabulary word is associated with a familiar concrete word or term, which we call the keyword or keyphrase. This word or phrase is acoustically or visually similar to the target word. The keyword/phrase is then related to the target word using an image, picture and or sentence. Students can retrieve the meaning of the word by thinking about or visualizing the picture or keyword/phrase.

Wang and Thomas (1995) provide an excellent example of the keyword mnemonic method in action. The sample word is CLAYMORE. In the first stage the student identifies a concrete word that is acoustically similar to the word CLAYMORE. The keyword is CLAY. Since CLAYMORE refers to a type of sword, the student would now develop an image that has a sword interacting with CLAY. The student develops an image of a sword piercing clay. The keyword mnemonic cycle is complete. In the vocabulary list below are common words identified on SAT examinations.


Vocabulary List

References

Atkinson, R.C. (1975). Mnemotechnics in second-language learning. American Psychologist, 30(7), 821-828.

Avila, E. & Sadoski, M. (1996). Exploring New Applications of the Keyword Method to Acquire English Vocabulary. Language Learning 46:3, September 1996, 379-395.

Carney, R.N.& Levin, J.R. (1998). Coming to Terms with the Keyword Method in Introductory Psychology: A “Neuromnemonic” Example. Teaching of Psychology. 25(2), 132-134.

Ellis, E. (1992). Lincs: a starter strategy for vocabulary learning. Edge Enterprises: Lawrence, Kansas.

Mastropieri, M.A. & Scruggs, T.E. (1991) Teaching students ways to remember. Brookline Books: Cambridge, MA.

Sternberg, R. J. (1986) Beyond IQ : A Triarchic Theory of Human Intelligence. Yale University Press: New Haven.

Wang, A.Y. & Thomas, H.T. (1995). Effect of Keywords on Long-Term Retention: Help or Hindrance? Journal of Educational Psychology, 87(3), 468-475.