Teaching Vocabulary Through a Semantic Mapping Technique.

This study compared teaching vocabulary through a definition and explanation technique with a semantic mapping technique, specifically to see which of the two techniques was more effective in achieving accurate and appropriate use of selected vocabulary and generating an awareness that words are related in meaning. A group of 40 Form.1 students were randomly selected. These were taught using a definition and explanation technique and later pre - tested. 'They were then taught through a semantic mapping technique, and were post - tested. The results showed a significant improvement in the performance of the students in respect to accurate and appropriate use of words as well as understanding meaning relations among words after being taught through a semantic mapping technique than after being taught with a .definition and explanation technique.

A ZJER article on vocabulary teaching in Zimbabwe.