TEACHING VOCABULARY IN AVIATION ENGLISH COURSE: A STEP-BY-STEP METHOD, STRATEGIES AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The primary focus of this paper on methodology is the lexical content of systematic and carefully devised course for teaching English to aviation students in order to expand their English vocabulary and, thus, allow them to communicate more freely and clearly. Having a large English vocabulary is a very important part of communication in aviation industry. Along with pronunciation and grammar, it provides the foundation for better speaking and listening skills. The first part of the paper discusses current vocabulary teaching strategies. The second section offers a teaching method of intentional planned work on aviation glossary items, arranged by the authors into a logical consistent workflow with several subsequent stages and steps. We state that mastering a word means complete understanding of its meaning, its use, and its ability to get connected with other words in a sentence. We underline the importance of regular, intentional exercises in practicing vocabulary after it has been presented to students. Thus, we differentiate the following stages in vocabulary teaching course: 1) presentation, which includes. semantization, addressing the word form and working on the word usage/collocation; 2) multiple exposures to targeted words, i.e. practising word recognition and production in a meaningful context (in collocations, phrases, sentences, and on out-of-phrase level - dialogues or monologues); and 3) active involvement in different speech acts. Each part is supplemented with examples of strategies, classroom techniques and exercises to be used in Aviation English course.