Fall 2023      Volume 51, Number 4

A Warm wELLcome for Language Learners: Word Choice: A Neglected but Key Skill for ELL Writers
By Kristin Lems

Document: Column  

Introductory Paragraph:  With all of the urgent, critical issues confronting education in general, and literacy practices in particular, why write a column on something as obscure as word choice? Word choice (sometimes called vocabulary choice or diction) often drops to the bottom of the “To Do” list for English as a Second Language (ESL), English, bilingual, and language arts teachers. Even when teachers are able to focus on writing to begin with (writing development is often the first thing cut when lessons run over), teachers of English language learners (ELLs) are too preoccupied with teaching grammar, spelling, organization, syntax, genres, and building background knowledge to spend even a moment on word choice! Also, teachers may conflate teaching vocabulary words for reading comprehension with teaching students how to choose—and use—the best possible words in writing.

DOI:   https://doi.org/10.33600/IRCJ.51.4.2023.74

Page Numbers:   74-77