TEACHING VOCABULARY IN EFL CLASSROOMS: RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING

Vocabulary learning is a fundamental part of second language acquisition. Without enough vocabulary, learners struggle with reading, listening, writing, and speaking tasks. In English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom, building strong vocabulary knowledge supports both comprehension and communication. This paper investigates what it truly means to “know” a word and examines effective vocabulary teaching methods, including direct instruction, contextual learning, spaced repetition, communication-based use, collocation teaching, and the multisensory learning. The discussion is grounded in research and practice to help teachers design vocabulary instruction that leads to meaningful, long-term learning.