HOW TO USE THE SEMANTIC FIELD KEYWORD APPROACH TO BUILD UP VOCABULARY FOR YOURSELF OR LEARNERS:

Instructions for use of these Semantic Field Keyword Groups:  for helping language learners to improve their English and best maximize their vocabulary learning are as follows.  First, take the Chapter Survey using Loucky's Dual Assessment Vocabulary Evaluator or Survey by checking which words you think you know or don't know and to what degree in the following way.  Print out one Chapter Survey at a time and check :

A. If you think you can define the Target Language Vocabulary word in Japanese, or whatever your native language is.  (TLV in L1 Translation)

B. If you think you can define the Target Language Vocabulary word in English.

C. If you can USE that Target Language Vocabulary word in a complete sentence

D. If you are Unsure of its meaning, but think you have heard or seen it and may be able to guess its meaning correctly.

E. If that Target Language Vocabulary word is completely Unknown to you.  (You have NO IDEA what its meaning could be.)

    1) Print out the DAVE Survey and if you have the time, you may also try to write your answers to letters A-C above, by giving a Japanese or native language translation, an English definition, and then trying to use that target word in your own complete English sentence correctly. You may give this to your teacher or English-speaking friend or native speaker to correct or for feedback.  You can also try to figure out the Percentage of each of the above levels of your Target Language Vocabulary Knowledge, under each of the above categories A-E for each Chapter before you begin to study.

    2) Next, challenge yourself by setting some realistic goals for your English vocabulary study.  For example, for Japanese college students in my TOEIC or TOEFL classes, or for those working to pass EIKEN STEP 1 or 1.5 or wishing to study or work abroad, I recommend the following type of plan.  Try to study one chapter per week, which will include 216 words per chapter including the Keywords themselves. Do this for nine weeks and you will have covered about 2,000 mostly new words (1,944), practically DOUBLING YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY!  Of course, you should not just study these words in these bilingual lists, but try to use them all in your own personal interview questions, substituting any of the related words for the simpler Keyword to negotiate a meaningful conversation. Try to do any of the fine exercises included in Crow's book, which these lists are based on, listed below. It is available from Pearson Education.  These bilingual files are the property of this Website owner, but links to it are welcome.  Please ask permission if you would like to use it in any publication, however.  To obtain the full 207 page text, with complete exercises in matching Keywords to Related Word Groups to most rapidly increase your receptive vocabulary, order: Vocabulary for Advanced Reading Comprehension: The Keyword Approach, by John T. Crow, 1986, a Prentice-Hall publication.  For any questions, e-Mail jploucky@mx22.tiki.ne.jp

To express appreciation, or for those desiring to report, exchange or collaborate on research in this field, please E-Mail the author at: jploucky@mx22.tiki.n.jp.  See his Website at: http://mx7.tiki.ne.jp/~jloucky/