Teachers and test-writers of English, I need your ideas to write an introduction to my book?

Question

This is a theme-based vocabulary test book with a large range of topics, for intermediate and upper intermediate level students.

Why do you think students who have reached a certain level should study vocabulary based on context?

And how does vocabulary learning process actually work?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Vocabulary based on context is essential since any given word may have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.  A perfect example of this is a word taken from a thesaurus as a synonym of another word but it is placed in the wrong context.  Teachers often find this to be the problem when students use a thesaurus to improve the vocabulary in a writing assignment.

Since most reading done outside the realm of vocabulary building ,as in words with definitions, involves determining the meaning of the word from context, this process is most important in developing one's vocabulary.  If you read the same word enough times within similar contexts, you will determine its meaning and may not even be aware you have done so.  This is the way small children learn the meaning of a word when they are learning to speak.  The repetition of "No" within certain contexts gives the child an awareness of its meaning.