COGNITIVE APPROACH IN VOCABULARY TEACHING
Keywords:
cognitive approach, vocabulary teaching, lexical competence, vocabulary acquisition, mental processes, semantic mapping, contextual learning, foreign language education, cognitive linguistics, language learning strategiesAbstract
This article explores the cognitive approach to vocabulary teaching in foreign language education, focusing on how learners acquire, organize, and retain lexical units through meaningful mental processes. Unlike traditional memorization-based methods, the cognitive approach emphasizes the role of perception, categorization, association, and conceptual understanding in vocabulary acquisition. The study analyzes key cognitive mechanisms involved in learning new words, including semantic mapping, contextualization, and the use of mental imagery. Special attention is given to the ways in which learners connect new vocabulary with prior knowledge, forming structured lexical networks rather than isolated units. The paper also examines practical strategies for implementing cognitive principles in classroom settings, such as the use of authentic contexts, problem-solving tasks, and interactive activities that stimulate deeper processing of lexical material. The findings suggest that a cognitive approach significantly enhances long-term retention, improves learners’ ability to use vocabulary in real communication, and supports the development of lexical competence as an integral part of communicative competence.
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