KOTESOL International Conference 2016
(Concurrent Session)
Colin Rundle, Soka University
Novel Ways with Problem-Solution Vocabulary
Abstract
Because problem solving is integral to critical thinking and an important skill for graduates and professionals, "problem-solution" is a commonly taught rhetorical structure featured in several EAP and ESP textbooks. However, textbooks provide few if any explicit suggestions on appropriate vocabulary. This presentation introduces problem vocabulary commonly found in problem-solution texts, especially in the fields of economics and engineering. It outlines a systematic hierarchy for teaching the words which includes collocations and metaphors. In particular, metaphors prove to be very productive in this domain. The presentation details how teaching the vocabulary through metaphors clarifies difficult usage rules such as prepositions and the complementary vocabulary used for solutions. Pictures which illustrate the metaphors are also demonstrated as an aid to comprehension and retention.
Biographicals
Colin Rundle is a lecturer at Soka University in Tokyo where he currently teaches courses in English for engineering and a course in EAP/ESP for the MATESOL Program. He was previously a lecturer at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo where he taught English for economics and policy studies for 11 years. He began his language teaching career at the Australian National University in 1994. Since then he has conducted research in the fields of semantics, autonomy and ESP.
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