College and University Research-based Short Session (20 minutes)
AWL + ER = AWL Readers
Permission to Record
Given the importance of learning L2 vocabulary in context (Webb, 2008), the use of academic texts would seem to be one of the most useful ways to support the learning of academic vocabulary. However, authentic academic materials rarely have sufficient academic vocabulary range and frequency to provide for the learning of the academic vocabulary. In addition, authentic materials tend to be too difficult for all but advanced level students. Against this background, the presenter wrote a fictional graded reader series (‘The AWL Readers’) in an attempt to make the learning of English academic vocabulary in context more effective, more comprehensible, and more stimulating for the students.
The AWL Readers follow the adventures (and misadventures) of a fictional university student and her unusual friend. They include all 570 AWL words, most recycled multiple times. This presentation will discuss: (1) how and why the AWL Readers were created; (2) how they will be used at the presenter’s institution; and (3) their possible usefulness in other teaching and learning contexts.
-
Paul is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical English at Nara Medical University (Nara, Japan), where he has been working since 2016. Paul has a law degree and an arts degree from the University of Auckland (New Zealand), and a master’s degree in applied linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester (UK). He is currently a PhD candidate at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies. Paul's primary research interests are in second language vocabulary acquisition, content and language integrated learning (CLIL), English for specific purposes (ESP), and learner motivation. When he is not teaching or researching, he can be found jogging or cycling around the Kita-ku area in Osaka, eating out at one of Fukushima’s fabulous restaurants, or rocking with his band ‘The Ballbreakers’ somewhere in Osaka. Paul also loves travelling, and isn’t far away from achieving his goal of visiting all 47 Japanese prefectures (38 so far!).