Peer Teaching Activity By Samantha Castillo and Elizabeth Fuentes.

1. ESP for Lawyers
¿How to teach vocabulary
through Reading and
Writing?
Samantha Castillo & Elizabeth Fuentes

2. ¿What is Legal English?
 LEGAL ENGLISH:
It is the style of English used by lawyers and other legal
professionals in the course of their work. It is informally
referred to as Lawspeak or Legalese.(Wikipedia)
Lawyers have their own vocabulary.
 We face 2 questions:
Why is so important to learn vocabulary?
& How can we teach it through Reading and Writing?

3. Learning Vocabulary: Why?
 It is a very important part of learning a language. The more words
you know, the more you will be able to understand what you hear
and read; and the better you will be able to say what you want to
when speaking or writing. (Frankfurt, 2011)
 Vocabulary learning is an indispensable process for ESL learners to
acquire proficiency and competence in target language. Word
power facilitates fluent speaking and effective writing. It
substantiates both : learners’ acquisition of knowledge and
production of knowledge. (Ahmad, 2012)

4. How can we teach vocabulary?
Intentional Learning
 Intentional learning is defined as being
designed, planned for, or intended by
teacher or students. (Yali, 2010)
 The intentional learning always focuses on
vocabulary itself, and combines with all
kinds of conscious vocabulary learning
strategies and means of memorizing
words. (Yali, 2010)
 Intentional vocabulary Learning is based
on synonyms, antonyms, word substitution,
and multiple choice. By practicing
guessing the students can understand the
meaning of words gradually. (Ahmad,
2012)
 The teacher does all the job, exercises are
teacher-centered, and the students are
not responsible for their own learning.

5. Incidental Learning
 Incidental learning is the process of
learning something without the
intention of doing so. It is also learning
one thing while intending to learn
another (Richards & Schmidt, 2002).
 In terms of language acquisition,
incidental learning is said to be an
effective way of learning vocabulary
from context. (Ahmad, 2012)
 Incidental Vocabulary Learning
motivates learners for extensive
reading. It involves learners' ability to
guess the meaning of new words from
the contextual clues. (Ahmad, 2012)
 Teacher helps the students, exercises
are student-centered, and the students
are responsible for their own learning.

6. Active Learning
 What is it?:
Active learning stands in contrast to
"standard" modes of instruction. It can be
used with Incidental Learning at the same
time.
 Reading
Active learning exercises such as summary
and note checks can help students process
what they've read and help them develop
the ability to focus on important information.
(University of Minnesota)
 Writing
Active learning exercises can be assigning
short in-class writings in which students have
to use core vocabulary (Eison, 2014).
Another option is to create sentences with
the vocabulary in context, or to create a
glossary.

7. Reading Activity Examples Intentional Learning

8. Reading
Activity
Examples
Incidental Learning/
Active Learning.

9. Writing Activity Examples
Active Learning/
Incidental
Learning

10. Writing Activity Examples
Intentional Learning

11. To sum up the content:
 Incidental Learning:
The type of learning, in which, students are going to learn vocabulary without
the intention of the teacher. It involves learners' ability to guess the meaning of
new words from the contextual clues.
 Intentional Learning:
The type of learning, in which, there is an intention or a plan to learn
vocabulary. It is based on synonyms, antonyms, word substitution, multiple
choice. By practicing guessing the students can understand the meaning of
words gradually.
 Active Learning:
The type of learning that stands in contrast to "standard" modes of instruction.
It can be used with Incidental Learning.
Reading: summaries and note checks.
Writing: short in-class writings, sentences with vocabulary in context, and a
glossary.

12. References
 Ahmad, Jameel (2012). Intentional vs. Incidental Vocabulary Learning. [ONLINE]
Available at: http://www.kau.edu.sa/Files/0053226/Researches/65160_36507.pdf. [Last
Accessed September 19th, 2014].
 Eison,Jim. Using Active Learning Instructional Strategies to Create Excitement and
Enhance Learning. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.cte.cornell.edu/documents/presentations/Eisen-Handout.pdf [Last
Accessed September 21st, 2014].
 Frankfurt International School (2011). How to Learn Vocabulary. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://esl.fis.edu/learners/advice/vocab.htm. [Last Accessed September 19th, 2014].
 University of Minnesota (). What Is Active Learning?. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/active/what/. [Last Accessed
September 19th, 2014].
 Yali, Guo (2010). L2 Vocabulary Acquisition Through Reading —Incidental Learning
and Intentional Learning. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.celea.org.cn/teic/89/10042205.pdf. [Last Accessed September 19th,
2014].