JALT2025 - Tokyo

Using Self-selected Vocabulary to Define Pedagogical Choices

Nov 2, 2025, 2:20 PM

30m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Practice-oriented Workshop (30-minutes) Pedagogy Room 508

Speaker

Ross Rangott (Hitotsubashi University)

Description

Keeping track of students’ self-selected vocabulary can inform syllabus design and adaption. This presentation compares prescribed vocabulary from several commonly used English language textbooks, with that of the most frequent self-selected vocabulary from 10 semester-long English communication classes (367 students). Documenting the most sought-after vocabulary from students can guide educators to adapt textbooks and individual lessons to better suit individual needs and give teachers informed guidance to the lexical aspect of syllabus design.

Summary

Keeping track of students’ self-selected vocabulary can inform syllabus creation and adaption. This presentation compares prescribed vocabulary from several commonly used English language textbooks, with that of the most frequent self-selected vocabulary from 10 semester-long English communication classes (367 students). Documenting the most sought-after vocabulary from students can guide educators to adapt textbooks and individual lessons to better suit individual needs and give teachers informed guidance to the lexical aspect of syllabus design.