How is the lexicon (vocabulary) acquired and structured?
Knowing a word involves more than knowing its definition. Students must see the word in meaningful context, understand how the word relates to similar forms, how it is used grammatically, and how it relates to other words and concepts. Teachers must understand how words are learned in non-instructional contexts through conversation and reading. 4. Are vernacular dialects different from “bad English” and if so, how? To realize that differences among regional and social dialects of English or another language are a matter of regular, contrasting patterns in their sound systems, grammar, and lexicons–rather than errors–educators need a solid grounding in socio-linguistics and in language behavior across cultures. Schools must help children who speak vernacular varieties of English master the standard variety required for academic development, and they must respect the dialects that children use in their families and primary communities. 5. What is academic English? Academic English is a
