What Vocabulary Should EFL Teachers Focus on?

Abstract

Vocabulary is probably one of the most important areas to which English language teachers often pay particular attention, in addition to principal issues like grammar, pronunciation, and culture. For most EFL practitioners, making a decision as to which words need to be taught first apparently poses a daunting challenge. This paper is thus aimed at introducing reliable sources of information on word frequency and some useful word lists, e.g. the Academic Word List (Coxhead, 2000), as well as raising teachers’ awareness of the potential benefits with which the word lists can provide them in their preparation of vocabulary teaching materials. Aside from word frequency, ESP (English for Specific Purposes) instructors should also highlight technical vocabulary, which will enhance learners’ understanding of the major specialized concepts of the discipline they are studying.