ABSTRACT
Technical vocabulary needs to be treated in much the same way as high-frequency vocabulary for learners who are specializing in that field. Technical vocabulary consists of vocabulary that is very closely related to a particular subject area. The information from frequency studies suggests a cost–benefit approach to dealing with vocabulary. Many teachers would assume that vocabulary learning stems mainly from the direct teaching of words in the classroom. Learning from meaning-focused input, that is, learning incidentally through listening and reading, accounts for most first language vocabulary learning. Listening is also a source of meaning-focused input and the same conditions of low unknown vocabulary load, quantity of input and some deliberate attention to vocabulary are necessary for effective vocabulary learning. Studies comparing incidental vocabulary learning with direct vocabulary learning characteristically show that direct learning is more effective. Deliberate vocabulary learning is a very important part of a vocabulary learning programme.
