Vocabulary and English for Specific Purposes Research - Averil Coxhead 2018

Introduction
Vocabulary research and ESP

Curriculum, classroom tasks and materials design and testing

Introduction

The focus of this chapter is vocabulary in ESP in relation to teaching, learning and testing. The first part focuses on research-based principles and concepts that are important in curriculum, classroom tasks, and materials design for specialised vocabulary. Two theoretical frameworks are presented first: Nation’s Four Strands (2007) and the Involvement Load Hypothesis (Hulstijn & Laufer, 2001; Laufer & Hulstijn, 2001), with examples. The next section focuses on studies into learning and teaching specialised vocabulary, including the use of specialised word lists for pedagogical purposes. The final section focuses on testing and vocabulary for ESP, with a main focus on classroom-based assessment. The chapter ends with a discussion of the limitations of research into specialised vocabulary learning and testing.