Current Issues and Future Research on Teaching and Learning of Academic Vocabulary in EMI Contexts
Averil Coxhead
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract
Academic vocabulary is a key element of spoken and written texts for educational purposes. This vocabulary can both support the content of academic texts (in the case of general academic vocabulary) and carry content (in the case of specific academic vocabulary). Two issues related to this lexis are discussed in this article: (1) how we define and characterize academic vocabulary and (2) how written and spoken academic vocabulary can be similar but also different. Suggestions for future research in academic vocabulary in EMI contexts include more analysis of written and spoken input in EMI contexts; undertaking longitudinal studies of academic vocabulary use in speaking and writing; and investigating assessment and growth of academic vocabulary knowledge.
Keywords
Academic vocabulary, multiword units, EMI, spoken, written
