Focus―on―Forms， Focus―on―Form， and Their Efficiency in Vocabulary Teaching and Learning.docVIP

Focus―on―Forms， Focus―on―Form， and Their Efficiency in Vocabulary Teaching and Learning 【Abstract】Vocabulary is generally recognized as most critical in foreign language learning. Students who get up early in the morning to read out loud word lists have been a popular and encouraging spot on campus. Although there is abundant research about vocabulary.This paper will review the development of FonF and FonFS in the field of ESL， and their relationship with vocabulary learning， exploring the possibilities of comparing FonF and FonFS in terms of their efficiency in vocabulary teaching and learning. 【Key Words】FonF and FonFS； Vocabulary； Teaching and Learning Introduction In the early days of second language teaching when linguistic elements such as grammar and sentence structure were taken as priority in class， vocabulary acquisition was just a simple process of remembering words and meanings. Mastery of accurate grammar and knowledge of large amount of vocabulary were the criteria for high second language level. Recent research shows that in order to achieve unassisted comprehension， an 8，000 to 9，000 word-family vocabulary is needed for comprehension of written text and a vocabulary of 6，000 to 7，000 for spoken text. （Nation， 2006） Therefore， finding an efficient way of learning vocabulary has become not only an essential step for foreign language learners to take， but also a popular researching field that attracts many scholars. From FonFS to FonF In the early stage of 1960s， structural linguistic theory was dominating ESL class. Second language learning was seen as a process of mastering a grammar system. Second language learning process was perceived as one of learning each rule of grammar as isolated projects and to make them into comprehensive knowledge for communicative needs. Students were mainly tested on grammar rules and vocabulary rules in exams. This traditional approach was now known as Focus-on-Forms （FonFS）. Communicative class started to take over ESL