Extensive Reading Develops Vocabulary Acquisition by Ratna Nur'aini

 

        I do agree that extensive reading is considered to be a part of the way to increase the students’ vocabulary. After reading the text materials, the students are asked to make discussion. In this case, the students automatically increase their vocabulary to express their opinion to reply their friends’ ideas during the discussion.  Meaning that, the students will be challenged to read more sources to enhance their knowledge. Otherwise they will have limited information to get involve in discussion. As what Cahyono (1997) said that students limited vocabulary cause problems in expressing main idea and elaborating supporting ideas.When the students reading the text materials given several times, they will learn how grasp the meaning of the vocabularies from the context. It is expected that automatically the students build their vocabulary through a contact or context.

        Vocabulary has essential role in learning a language. Kresen and Terrel claim that learning vocabulary should be focused to be more comprehensible, thus there will be more acquisition.

        Based on these facts, I think that teachers may create class for vocabulary learning such as what I have ever done as follows:

One in two weeks I give the students in group of 4 a kind of assignment or homework about a reading text.

·      Asked the students at home or out of class to discuss the text material in group to find some unfamiliar words to be listed while understanding the content of the text.

·      Understanding the meaning and the usage of the words, the students are asked to create their own sentences

·      Change their work to another group to be corrected and give back to the group owner

·      Based on the correction they make some revising and editing

·      Present in front of class, accepting the comments from another groups and teacher

·      All students make some note