Computer Generated Word Lists
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With the increase of computing power and the digitization of English language literature and texts, researchers have been able to survey texts and develop lists of the most frequently used words in English. Two lists used by our school to explicitly teach vocabulary are the General Service List (GSL) and the Academic Word List (AWL). Our approach is to divide the GSL in half, teaching the first 1000 words to Grade 10 students, the next 1000 words to Grade 11 and the approximately 500 words of the AWL to Grade 12 students.
General Service List
Dating back to 1953, the General Service List (GSL) is a list of roughly 2000 words originally published by Michael West . The words represent the most frequent words of English. The list is important because it includes approximately 90-95 percent of colloquial speech and 80-85 percent of common written texts. A major update of the GSL, known as the New General Service List (NGSL), was published in March 2013 by Charles Browne, Brent Culligan and Joe Phillips.
Dating back to 1953, the General Service List (GSL) is a list of roughly 2000 words originally published by Michael West . The words represent the most frequent words of English. The list is important because it includes approximately 90-95 percent of colloquial speech and 80-85 percent of common written texts. A major update of the GSL, known as the New General Service List (NGSL), was published in March 2013 by Charles Browne, Brent Culligan and Joe Phillips.
Academic Word List
The Academic Word List (AWL) was developed by Averil Coxhead as her MA thesis at the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The list contains 570 word families which were selected according to principles, preparing learners for post-secondary academic study.
The Academic Word List (AWL) was developed by Averil Coxhead as her MA thesis at the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The list contains 570 word families which were selected according to principles, preparing learners for post-secondary academic study.
Relation to Guiding Principles
Principle One ~ Contextualized and Decontextualized Input ~ Computer generated word lists help focus instruction on decontextualized input, emphasizing the following:
- High-frequency vocabulary for beginning and low intermediate learners.
- Academic vocabulary and useful technical vocabulary for intermediate and and advanced students.