Recurrent Exposures

Words are learned best through multiple exposures in a variety of contexts. 

Word learning seems fast, but in fact, words are typically learned only after multiple exposures, as many as 10 - 40 meaningful encounters and opportunities for use. Of course, something about the word might be learned from the first exposure – perhaps whether it is a noun or a verb, or some vague idea of what it means. But multiple exposures to the vocabulary words could mean the difference between students memorizing for the test or truly learning for the long-term. These exposures are needed to nail down meaning, to understand exactly how a word is used, and to be sure the word is remembered. So, effective vocabulary instruction must expose learners to vocabulary words multiple times over the course of a few weeks and even months. 

Students should be actively involved in using and thinking about these words through reading, listening, speaking, and writing. These recurrent exposures should not be memorization exercises, but rather meaningful interactions with words in a variety of different contexts. Students are more likely to retain a word’s meaning if they have a chance to use it in discussion or writing on a topic they really care about.