Techniques for vocabulary assessment in Hungary
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21030/anyp.2019.1.3Keywords:
vocabulary, techniques for vocabulary assessment, measuring vocabulary, text comprehension, learning competence, textbook terminologyAbstract
Vocabulary is an important component of text comprehension and learning competences. Therefore, exploring children′s vocabulary contributes to conscious teaching and development. This study first introduces research on vocabulary development, then it describes various techniques for testing vocabulary . After that the role of an individual′s vocabulary in comprehension is discussed. Certain investigations suggest that knowing the most frequent 5-6,000 words is sufficient for the comprehension of everyday texts. The research project of the Vocabulary Network Department in 2008, however, concluded that the text book families of a publisher contain 40,000 words on average between grades 3-8. Data shows that it is challenging even for an average child to keep up with the terminology used in textbooks. The second half of the study describes investigations and procedures that help us learn more about the individual′s vocabulary and might support the development of children′s text comprehension and learning competences.