The Keyword Method and Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning: A Rationale for Its Use

Abstract

ABSTRACT Acquiring a strong foundation in vocabulary is critical to successful foreign language learning. Many studies have shown that students can learn foreign vocabulary more easily and can retain that vocabulary over long periods of time when the mnemonic keyword method is used to teach the vocabulary. The keyword method is an associative technique that makes use of acoustic and imagery links between the foreign word and its English translation. The impressive levels of recall produced by use of the keyword method indicate that the method should be implemented into foreign language programs. This paper asks the question, “Why isn't the keyword method being used to teach foreign language vocabulary?” It addresses the possible concerns of language teachers, provides a rationale for using the keyword method to teach foreign vocabulary, and describes a procedure for implementing the method into the language class. Although examples are given for Spanish vocabulary, the method has been applied successfully to several other languages and can be used in any foreign language class.