Well, I love photography and I really believe the best way to teach vocabulary is using a picture. And why? Well, photos, images and pictures speak for themselves.
They speak a language everyone understands.
Therefore, collecting all sorts of images is always a good thing of an ESL learner to do.
Always a big thing for an ESl teacher.
Where is that? Who is that? Why are they laughing? What’s the word for this or that in Portuguese/English?
There are all sorts of questions to ask.
This is the reason why pictures in general are great to teach vocabulary. They are life.
Everyone Can Learn Better
Pictures give students the opportunity not only to learn language better, but also to understand inter cultural aspects related with the image itself.
On the other hand, photos usually help people to express memories. They help them talking about their life and to find connections with others.
And that is what’s really important. Engaging students’ in the learning process so that it will be easier for them to recall.
Are Photographs Good to teach Vocabulary In A Foreign Language?
No doubt with that.
Scroll the list below and find out why!
Every each of them will turn out to be important in developing the learners’ vocabulary.
20 Reasons For Using Photos: 20 Reasons Why Pictures Are Important In ESL
Photos…
- create a pleasant atmosphere to learn
- are understood by most people
- exploit thoughts
- increase students’ motivation
- maximize student’s’ understanding of language
- reinforce language skills
- present new ideas
- engage students’ in the learning process
- make students relate
- make recall easier later on
- act as a starting point and make students remembering process easier
- enrich students’ memories
- promote deeper comprehension when taught within context
- help creating a context for teaching a specific topic, creating a contextual experience
- show the “real thing”
- demonstrate the meaning of words
- bring outside inaccessible words into the classroom
- incorporate in the classroom a taste of the outer world
- appeal to visual learners of all ages
- help ordering items, making it easier to learn a language
But How Can You Really Use A Photo To Learn A Foreign Language?
Besides asking questions, students can brainstorm any ideas related to what they see.
Have a look at this template you can use in every occasion.
I hope you grab every second to create unforgettable moments for your students…
Right now you can start with these taken in Portugal.
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading!
