Oxford Word Skills (OWS)
Oxford Word Skills is an
English Language Teaching Student’s site of ‘Oxford University Press’ which is
the largest university press in the world. In this website, English language
teaching and learning resources for teaching English to young learners,
teenagers and adults are available.
Since published so far,
Oxford Word Skills’ learners from around the world warmly received and
considered it as a textbook and most essential application for the vocabulary
development. Many people say that one of the best vocabulary series- an invaluable
resource for teachers to help learners to be more confident and learners to
practice or confidently use new words.
Oxford Word Skills is a
three level topic-based vocabulary course to learn and practice words, phrases
and lexical grammar in context by Ruth Gairns and Stuart Redman. Three level
series are Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Oxford Word Skills also provides Basic
(Intermediate), Advanced (Idioms and Phrasal verbs), Oxford Learner’s Pocket
Word Skills or WORD LIST ( Oxford Learner’s Pocket Phrasal Verbs and Idioms
with phonetics and key unit. It improves students’ vocabulary and vocabulary
learning skills. To help for improving study skills and vocabulary which used
by the school, it consists of many approaches. Short, clear voice, good
presentation and lots of opportunity for practice which give students the
confidence to use new vocabulary or diction. It contains 80 units; at each
level mean they cover a huge range of topics and everyday situations. For
example: ‘Choose a unit’ on a right side and ‘Choose a section’ on left side
and there is also a NOTEBOOK which includes the word list with oral pronunciation.
Oxford Word Skills
presents and practices the words, phrases, and lexical grammar. Students need
to listen, speak, read, and write confidently on a wide range of topics and
everyday situation. 2,000 words at each level show the meaning and how words
work in context. With these key words and plenty of opportunity to practice,
students can cover the vocabulary which they need including typical exam
topics.
‘I can…’ approach used to
each unit so students can easily see learning goal, they can know exactly what
they will able to do and why. Units are simple, clear and easy. Students can
easily predict the purpose of each unit. For example:
Fully integrated skills
with interactive listening and speaking activities, pronunciation model for
every vocabulary item and it is ideal for users in inside or outside of class
to explain the new words with real-life contexts and situations. Easy to use
and regular review units allow students check their progress and test longer.
Oxford Word Skills can
use for short of time; just 20 minutes or 30 minutes of a lesson. Short
explanations and quick practice activities mean minimal preparation.
We can evaluate this
student’s site by user friendliness, input sufficiency, interaction with the
material, tangibility, motivation or interest, outcomes, and if any other
needed.
Vocabulary development
rarely fails to be both a popular and necessary part of any language lesson. It
is essential for its easily quantifiable and tangible or noticeable nature.
Furthermore, it needs careful focus and practice but can be revisited as more
as necessary. Course books not often have the space for the latter, and consequently
there are countless supplementary titles on the market and the web to give
students an endless supply of vocabulary practice exercises and games.
Teachers
invariably have a part of repertoire of vocabulary activities for warmers in
classroom. It is especially user-friendly because if the class has a ‘vocabulary
box’ of recently covered words then teachers can relax and students can learn
with their range.
However, whereas we can
easily count the number of words we work on, it is far less easy to quantify
those which students can use effectively and accurately.
This is where Oxford
Word Skills comes very effective in, not only presenting and practicing new words
in meaningful contexts but also taking vocabulary development further in many
directions: words within (semi-) fixed phrases, collocations, formal and
informal use, abbreviations, verb patterns, confusing words, lexical grammar
and so on. None of these aspects is new, but see them coherently incorporated on
every page of these materials with the bigger picture enables to teach students
much more easily. And this is the start but it is a minefield because in these
materials, students are given extremely clear navigational tools which are
regular.
80 units and each unit are
containing one or two exercises relating to the target vocabulary. Answers for
the exercises of both individual and review units are at the back. Vocabulary
building tables, a glossary of all words focused on at that level (pronunciation
and word stress for every item). At each level, the starter unit gives tips on
using the materials and strategies for effective vocabulary learning. All
sections would provide learners with a wealth of invaluable language and
strategies for general language.
Each level has an
interactive software helps train: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing,
Grammar and English presentations easily and efficiently. That’s why students
will have to access more to gain huge amount of knowledge.
At different levels,
the vocabulary includes:
- A wide range of topics, e.g. behavior,
competitive sport, medical advances
- A range of concepts, e.g. problems and
solutions, truths and lies, old and new
- Different fields of academic English,
e.g. literature, science, technical English
- An increased focus on different styles
of English, e.g. informal English, newspaper journalism, formal letters
- A wide range of idiomatic expressions,
with a particular focus on figurative uses of language
- Various aspects of language, e.g.
compounds, discourse markers, prepositional phrases
The series includes almost all of the words in
the Oxford Word Skills which words teachers and students should prioritize in
their teaching and learning. This is based on frequency and usefulness to
learners.
In addition, we can say that the software
of Oxford Word Skills mainly generates for advance learners’ who have
fundamental foundation of implementing English Language in the real life,
looking like the tool ‘EverWrite’. There is plenty of practice opportunity
incorporated in this tool; which I’ve described before following inductive approach
supporting to increase vocabulary among learners.
It is easy and accessible
flash software not to think for installation rather works as storage device. Teachers and students can easily
practice this one for sustaining their teaching and learning. Including 80
units with 12 segments represent diversification of learning such as Expanding
Your vocabulary, The body, You and other people, Leisure and life Style, A
changing of world, Institutions, News and current affairs, Work and finance,
Concepts, Spoken English, Written English, and Aspects of languages. The
existing exercises have connected with audio clips supports learners doing
works painstakingly.
Through listening can learn how to pronounce vocabulary
appropriately. When they complete first step of the exercises, the next step
will be little harder than previous one.
The interesting things are found in this software that
exercises have options to chance the leaner to try exercise two times. The
incorrect answer is showed to instruct try again. After successfully completing
the exercises learners will forward to step for next exercise.
Different types of professionals can use this tool. We can
call it is a tool of (English for Specific Purpose) ESP People working at
finance use finance related vocabulary. Vygotskys’ Scaffolding theory is
connected with this tool because when learners want support from this tool to
used vocabulary it helps them. In the light of practicing options demonstrate
Stephen Krashens’ Affective Filter Hypothesis. Learners feel free to practice
without interfering others.
The grammatical items like prefix, suffix, adjectives,
adverbs, prepositions and prepositional phrases, and euphemisms are introduced
in this tool to be skilled among learners and teachers.
In conclusion, it can
be said that getting this tool creates language learning enthusiastically who
have really devotion of education.
Key-Facts:
Manufacturer- Oxford
University Press
Author- Ruth Gairns
& Stuart Redman
Format- DVD-ROM
File type- PDF and
interactive software
Language- English
Number of series: 3
