Teaching Vocabulary to Beginners

The IRDP Technique

A Useful for Teaching a Vocabulary Field

Examples of Vocabulary fields:

Colours Numbers SeasonsVegetablesMusical instruments Science lab equipment

Other examples?

Today, you’ll be able to:

Experience this technique as a student

Work out its 4 stages

Apply the technique to another vocabulary field as you would in your class

Explain the technique to someone else!

Input:

1 2 3 4

Listen & hold up the right number of fingers!

Recognition:

Discrimination

Which number is it?Choose the right one!

2

ProductionWhat number is it?Say the number!

3

Apply the Learning

Write the number you hear!

1. 2.3.4.

Reflection & Discussion:

What happened during Step 1?

What did the teacher say? What did the teacher do? What did the students say?

Step 1 is called: INPUT

Why?

Reflection & Discussion:

What happened during Step 2?

What did the teacher say? What did the teacher do? What did the students say?

Step 2 is called: RECOGNITION

Why?

Reflection & Discussion:

What happened during Step 3?

What did the teacher say? What did the teacher do? What did the students say?

Step 3 is called: DISCRIMINATION

Why?

Reflection & Discussion:

What happened during Step 4?

What did the teacher say? What did the students say?

Step 4 is called:PRODUCTION

Why?

And why follow up with Application?

New Vocabulary Field: Shapes1 2

3 4

INPUT?

1 2

3 4

RECOGNITION?

1 2

3 4

DISCRIMINATION?

1 2

3 4

PRODUCTION?

1 2

3 4

RECAP:1 What are the 4 steps called?

2 Explain each one to your partner.

3 Why bother with the 4 steps?

4 What will you teach to your own class using this technique?