Word Game Approach To Introducing Business Correspondence Vocabulary

One important aspect to be considered when teaching languages is the introduction of vocabulary. Traditionally, it consisted of several set stages that were widely followed in all classes – neither a big challenge for instructor nor too much fun for learners. When teaching languages for specific purposes (LSP), such as Business English, these negative aspects can even sharpen. Specialised vocabulary or specific lexical units call forth a slightly more attentive consideration of the way of presenting them to the learners, so as to be effectively perceived and properly assimilated. The way of tackling vocabulary introduction with such classes has been a constant preoccupation that, on one side, drove us to search into the matter, and on the other, stimulated us to elaborate and create more interesting activities for the purpose. Meaning assimilation, word acquisition and further usage skill development are the primary objectives of the activity of teaching vocabulary. In our practice these proved to be more effectively achieved when resorting to an ‘alternative’ approach of introducing the new words, i.e. the non-conventional technique of employing word-games as basic activity during the class. The current article is thus an attempt to bring forward a practical matter, presenting some word games that can be successfully used when teaching specific vocabulary in business correspondence classes. The article discloses the steps followed and the material used within our research along a semester, with an experimental group and a regular group of students, as well as the results obtained. The models and exercises created representing our own design and having been used within the classes taught confer this study not only originality but also practicality as the material provided and the steps considered may prove useful for other educators as well.