Abstract:
This study attempts to verify and prove that English words (Vocabulary
items) have meaning and value. It also aims at showing that being ' eclectic' is
the suitable way for teaching vocabulary and exercises strengthen and enhance
the role of teaching. It attempts to explain the factors that help learners learn
vocabulary items. To achieve these aims the researcher points out six
hypotheses. The subjects of this study were (40) lecturers (tertiary level
Bakhet Er-Ruda and Elimam Al-Mahedi universities), and (40) students from
Bakhet Er-Ruda and Elimam Al-Mahedi universities.
The methods used for collecting data were a lecturers questionnaire , a
students' questionnaire and a vocabulary technique test for the same students .
The findings of this study are:
- The vast majority of those who answered the questionnaire (lecturers)
agreed that words have meaning and they have value.
- Most of lecturers incline to be 'eclectic' in teaching vocabulary, but the
study finds that they don't train their Ss in learning the art of guessing
vocabulary.
- Ss practice the various strategies in learning and acquiring vocabulary ,
also the study reveals that exercises play a pioneering role in
strengthening the learning of vocabulary.
- Depending on the study results the following recommendations were
suggested:
• The meaning should be explained to the students clearly since it
exists, preferably the different meanings of a word should be
explained (if it at all has).
• lecturers should select all the ' pros ' of all methods in treating
vocabulary.
• They should train their students to guess the meaning of words
(new vocabulary items) for themselves.
• Students should be exposed to all the strategies that enable them
to learn vocabulary accurately.
• Students should be trained in mastering the dictionary skills.
• Students should be assigned with unnumerable vocabulary
.exercises to fix the vocabulary items they learnt firmly
