Let’s create a new list!
Whatever you’re learning (or teaching), Vocabulary.com can help.
Sort: Relevance
Sort: Hardest First
Sort: Easiest First
Sort: List/Text Order
Sort: A-Z
Sort: Most Occurrences
Select First 10
Select First 25
Select First 50
Deselect All Words
Select the definitions you would like to focus on:
Select a featured example sentence:
Include Example Sentences
Your list is ready for learning.
Continue by creating a free basic account.
Working on it…
We’re creating your list right now.
This post is the first in a series on how to make the most of Cambridge Dictionary +Plus in your teaching. In this instalment, we’re sharing some tips about making effective word lists.
Good word lists are an easy and engaging way to support your students’ vocabulary learning. Learners can use word lists in class or for independent study and revision. Using Cambridge Dictionary +Plus, you can create your own word lists and view those made by other people or provided by Cambridge. There are also word lists based on vocabulary from Cambridge courses such as Interchange and Evolve.
More options for learning with the new +Plus app
You might already be familiar with using word lists in Cambridge Dictionary +Plus on the web. The new +Plus app gives your students new options for learning on their smartphones. They can test their knowledge of word lists with 3 kinds of interactive quizzes:
- Word memory quizzes ask students to type the English word that matches the definition they are shown.
- Using flash cards, students read a definition and decide for themselves whether they know the corresponding word. They can then check their answer.
- Audio quizzes ask students to listen to a word being spoken, and to type what they hear.
The flash cards and audio quizzes are both exclusive to the Cambridge Dictionary +Plus app.
Quizzes are a brilliant way of making vocabulary learning more engaging. However, a poorly designed word list often leads to a quiz that frustrates or confuses students. How can we avoid this and create word lists and quizzes that are clear, effective and enjoyable?
Keep your word lists short
A word list that is too long is difficult to use, so choose a small group of words. 20 is a good limit, but exactly how many words you include will depend on the purpose of the list and the level your students are working at. Beginners might do better with even smaller lists of 8–10 words at first. They might also use slightly longer lists when reviewing vocabulary they are already confident with.
Make sure that the words you include are linked with a clear theme. Give the word list a title that will help your students to understand what it contains. This will also help when you share your word list with other members of the Cambridge Dictionary +Plus community.
Use the right dictionary
The Cambridge Dictionary +Plus app and website give you access to a range of dictionaries for different learners, so choose the one that is right for your students.
For example, some groups of students might be confident identifying words from their English definitions, using word lists based on our monolingual English dictionaries. Others might benefit from quizzes made using our bilingual dictionaries, which allow students to practise translating between English and their first language.
Get to know the English Profile levels
Pay attention to the letter-number labels that appear next to some definitions. These show the English Profile level of a word, corresponding to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference from A1 (Beginner) to C2 (Proficiency).
By choosing words of the same level, you will be able to create word lists that are more balanced and that help your students to focus on the vocabulary that will be most useful to them at each stage of their learning. These labels give you reliable, research-based information about which words and phrases are known and used by learners at different levels.
Put yourself in your students’ shoes
When you have chosen a selection of words that meets your students’ needs, you should check that your word list will work as a quiz. Cambridge Dictionary +Plus quizzes give students immediate feedback on whether they have answered a question correctly. However, for an answer to be marked as correct, it must be typed exactly as it appears in the word list. Before making a word list, think about whether it will be clear to your students what they need to type to answer a quiz question. You might want to avoid making word lists with:
- Words with very similar meanings. For example, for a definition like ‘extremely large’, students might not know whether they are expected to answer with ‘huge’, ‘enormous’ or ‘colossal’. So, avoid putting more than one of these words in the same list.
- Phrases and idioms with several possible forms. Again, students may not be able to tell what they are expected to type: ‘in two shakes’ or ‘in two shakes of a lamb’s tail’? ‘make it quick’ or ‘make it fast’? ‘make it up to somebody’, ‘make it up to someone’ or ‘make it up to sb’?
We hope that these tips make you feel confident about creating word lists that your students will love.
Why not download the Cambridge Dictionary +Plus app using the buttons below and try for yourself? Or sign up to +Plus on the Cambridge Dictionary website.
The next blog post for this series will be on the importance of short activities to promote long-term learning. This blog will also be exploring some of the exciting +Plus app features in more detail.
In the meantime, check out Katie Pipe’s blog about teaching remotely with the Cambridge Thesaurus.
Is the category for this document correct?
- Arts & Humanities
- Writing
- Grammar
Thank you for your participation!
No more boring flashcards learning!
Learn languages, math, history, economics, chemistry and more with free Studylib Extension!
- Distribute all flashcards reviewing into small sessions
- Get inspired with a daily photo
- Import sets from Anki, Quizlet, etc
- Add Active Recall to your learning and get higher grades!
Add to Chrome
It’s free
150 Vocabulary Word-Definition Lists and Worksheets for Middle – High School
Here are a total of 150 downloadable learning and instructional documents to help with expanding and building vocabulary for middle and high school students. These cover a variety of topics, and include word and definition lists, vocabulary exercises, worksheets and lessons. They are pdf files, unless indicated as .doc format. Update: here are our latest vocabulary posts: 373 Greek and Latin Roots in English Words, Vocabulary For Middle and High School Students and 106 More Vocabulary and Spelling Worksheets, Lists, Texts and Videos, Grades 1-8. Also, don’t miss 150 Spelling Books to freely download.
- 20 Vocabulary Words, Middle School
- 35 Word Chain Crossword Puzzles with answers
- 3rd Grade Vocabulary Words
- 3rd Grade Word Study Worksheets
- 47 Vocabulary Worksheets, Answers at end – Higher Grades
- 100 Words Every High School Freshman Should Know
- 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
- 100 Words with Definitions List 1, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 2, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 3, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 4, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 5, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 6, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 7, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 8, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 9, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 10, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 11, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 12, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 13, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 14, High School
- 100 Words with Definitions List 15, High School
- 100 Vocabulary Tests with Answers, Intermediate
- 100 Vocabulary Units & Tests with Answers, Advanced
- 100 Vocabulary Units & Tests with Answers, Intermediate
- 500 Vocabulary Words, HS Levels C and D
- 1250 Words & Phrases in 60 Units with Answers, Elementary
- A ‘Word’ About Vocabulary
- Academic Vocabulary List
- Agriculture Vocabulary Words
- Algebra Vocabulary List, Definitions for Middle School
- Approaching New Words
- Architecture Vocabulary Words
- Back Words for Back to School A Vocabulary Brain Teaser
- Beginning Middle and End of Words with Test and Answers
- Beowulf Vocabulary Words
- Beyond Matching Vocabulary
- Cellular Transport Vocabulary Words
- Check Your English Vocabulary for Medicine
- Common Vocabulary Words Level 1 – Verbs
- Connotation Chart with answer key
- Costumes and Garmets Vocabulary Words
- Culinary Essentials Vocabulary Words
- Diet and Exercise Vocabulary Words
- Diminutive Suffixes Vocabulary Words
- Drama Vocabulary Words
- Driver Education Vocabulary Words
- Earth Science Vocabulary Words
- Ecology Vocabulary Words
- Eighth Grade Literary Terms You Should Know.doc
- Emotions Vocabulary Words
- Energy Vocabulary Words
- Engaging Activities for English Vocabulary Learners
- Evolution Vocabulary Words
- Five Senses Example for Generating Similes-Metaphors
- Five Senses Organizer for Generating Similes-Metaphors
- Flocabulary SAT Vocabulary Word List
- Fossil Vocabulary
- Getting ‘In’ to Prefixes
- GMAT Vocabulary List
- GRE Vocab Flashcard eBook
- Helping your school age child to understand and use words
- High School Music Band Vocabulary
- Language Arts Instructional Routine Book K-6th Grade
- Lesson for Spelling and Vocabulary Contest
- Lord of the Flies Chapters 1-4 Vocabulary Worksheet
- Matter Vocabulary Words
- Metaphors in I Have A Dream speech
- Middle School Assessment Vocabulary
- Middle School Level Vocabulary Matching Words 1
- Middle School Math Terminology
- Middle School Math Vocabulary Word Wall Cards
- Middle School SAT Vocabulary Words
- National Reading Vocabulary Grade 5
- National Reading Vocabulary Grade 6
- Plate Tectonics Vocabulary Matching
- Plate Tectonics Vocabulary Words
- Prefix Suffix Root List Chart.doc
- SAT Vocabulary Words Commonly Tested
- SAT Vocabulary Words Adjectives
- SAT Vocabulary Words Nouns
- SAT Vocabulary Words Verbs
- Science Vocabulary Words
- Science Unit Vocabulary Words
- Scientific Method Vocabulary Words
- Short Story Vocabulary Words
- Six-Step Vocabulary Instructional Practice.doc
- Six-Step Vocabulary Instructional Practice
- Teaching Academic Vocabulary Strategies and Activities
- Teaching Grammar and Vocabulary
- Test Your Vocabulary, Answers at end
- Tier 2 Vocabulary Words for High School
- Top 1000 Vocabulary Words
- Vertebrates Vocabulary Words
- Vocabulary Activities
- Vocabulary Critical Word List with Definitions, to Grade 12
- Vocabulary Flash Cards – Basic Set
- Vocabulary Flash Cards – Easy Set
- Vocabulary Flash Cards – Hard Set
- Vocabulary Flash Cards – Medium Set
- Vocabulary Games for Middle School
- Vocabulary Learning Strategies
- Vocabulary Lesson 1 – Cuisine.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 2 – Law.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 3 – Money and Finance.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 4 – School Days.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 5 – Feelings.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 6 – Writing and Editing.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 7 – Construction.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 8 – Sports.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 9 – Behavior.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 10 – Nature and Wildlife.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 11 – Mystery and Suspense.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 12 – Clothing and Fashion.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 13 – Travel .doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 14 – Government.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 15 – Medicine .doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 16 – History.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 17 – Language and Literature.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 18 – Transportation.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 19 – Suffixes -ation-tion-ion-sion.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 20 – Agriculture.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 21 – The Military.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 22 – Headline News.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 23 – Performing Arts.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 24 – The Home.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 25 – Suffixes -ful-ous.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 26 – Occupations.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 27 – Actions.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 28 – Health.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 29 – Art and Music.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 30 – Science.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 31 – Hobbies.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 32 – Business.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 33 – Animal Life.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 34 – Prefixes di-dis-.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 35 – Prefixes co-con-com-.doc
- Vocabulary Lesson 36 – Verbal Communication.doc
- Vocabulary Words, 3rd Unit
- Vocabulary Worksheet Grade 9
- Vocabulary Workshop Unit 2, 20 Words for 6th Grade
- Vocabulary Workshop Unit 3, 20 Words for 6th Grade
- Weather Climate Vocabulary
- Word Games and Puzzles
- Word List for Graduate Management Admission Test
- Words Often Confused Set 1, scan
- Words Often Confused Set 2, scan
- Workshop 1 Vocabulary Words
- Workshop 4 Vocabulary Words
- WW II Vocabulary Words
– love learning -your best ed lessons guide, Scott
The Academic Word List (AWL) contains 570 of the most important words you need to know to be successful in your studies.
Four great reasons to learn the AWL
- Understand your lectures more easily.
- Read your course material more quickly and effectively.
- Improve your academic writing and complete assignments more quickly.
- Build your confidence in talking with lecturers and other students.
How to use this resource
Start at list 1 & 2. The games and quizzes will help you check that you really know these words and can use them effectively. Then continue with the other lists. There are 10 lists in total. You’ll be surprised what a difference 10 minutes a day can make!
Links
The Using English for Academic Purposes website has a great resource on the Academic Word List with links to definitions as well as other practice activities.
Resources
Coxhead A (2000) ‘A new academic word list’, TESOL Quarterly, 34(2):213-238, doi:10.2307/3587951.
Coxhead A (1998) An academic word list, ELI Occasional Publications 18, School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.