Using a Mind Map to Learn English Vocabulary

Abstract

English vocabulary constitutes a challenge for English foreign language teaching and learning. Most students spend a lot of time studying English vocabulary, but the result is often frustrating and unsatisfactory when so many students learn vocabulary by rote memorization, which is boring and dampens students' enthusiasm for learning. Therefore, it is desirable to find an effective tool to help students learn English vocabulary. The Mind Map is a thinking tool that, based on divergent thinking, builds up a structure of knowledge for each target word by associating it with other related words or concepts. Thus, recalling of one vocabulary word will prompt the other related items. It also incorporates words, pictures, color, images and graphics, making learning information a vividly visual format. Using Mind Maps in learning is in conformity with the theory of knowledge of visualization, information processing theory and brain science theory. This paper analyzes the feasibility of using the Mind Map in teaching and learning English vocabulary theoretically. Prior to any trials or other empirical research, this initial study adopts the qualitative methodology, mainly analyzing the features of the Mind Map and the scientific basis for using the Mind Map in teaching and learning English vocabulary. The goal of this paper is to encourage English foreign language teachers and students to incorporate the Mind Map into their educational process as an effective technique for teaching and learning English vocabulary.