Polysemous words are the most essential theme of semantics, which are considered as one of the basic features of human language. There have already been a variety of debates arising from the study on Polysemous words. First of all, there is a debate r...
Polysemous words are the most essential theme of semantics, which are considered as one of the basic features of human language. There have already been a variety of debates arising from the study on Polysemous words. First of all, there is a debate related to 'Meaning Extension" at the view of cognitive semantics. Also, a study is being proposed which focuses on developing teaching-learning methods for improving vocabulary based on polysemous words.
The basics of cognitive semantics consist of cognitive domain, foreground-background, and stage model. Based on these concepts, when a word has core and extended meanings at the same time, it can be called 'polysemous words'.
This study is designed to propose teaching methods of polysemous words through the analysis of polysemous words in the novels based on the theoretical grounds supported above. This study investigates the problems of the learning of fragmentary memory on polysemous words provided in Korean language textbooks of middle school. It also verifies the need of new media by use of a questionnaire to middle school students. In order to do so, novels, such as 'Spring Spring' and 'Camellia' by Kim, You-Jeong, are specially chosen. That is because these works can provoke a sense of humor through a reversal of the situation in the stories and give rise to students' interest as well. In addition, it is definitely effective for students to learn polysemous words in that a variety of interpretation of words depending on the situation and the contexts of works can be possible.
This study divides the steps of the plot in the works, "Spring Spring" and "Camellia' by Kim, You-Jeong, and surveys how the polysemous words are used in the works depending on the steps of the plot. And this presents the contextual meaning of polysemous words with reference to dictionary as well. Besides this, the thesis provides plentiful teaching methods and materials effective for learning polysemous words based on the actualizing mode of polysemous words in the novels.
To begin with, this study analyzes the model of learning of general vocabulary and then sets up an effective teaching method of polysemous words by using the steps capable of applying the advantages of cooperative learning. These processes are composed of three periods which are in stages of preparation, partial approach, representation and overall approach. In the first and second period, the model 'Co-op Co-op', or self-control cooperative learning is applied and in the third period, the model 'TGT', or team competition learning is applied to make the polysemous words teaching more effective.
The first period is composed of the activity of establishing identity, reading novels, understanding the topics, dividing the novels into the steps of plots, and tasks of group assessment. In the second period, there are many activities, such as analogy using contextual information with the strategies of 'context analogy' and 'looking up words in a dictionary', checking the use of a dictionary, and structuring the core and peripheral meanings of polysemous words. The third period is a kind of model which is likely to be a game that estimates scores and give feedback through the game like a playing of yut. What's more, this model not only take measure of the answers of various tasks, such as group presentation, doing short compositions, solving the problem by TOEFL style, mime, cloze tests, completing a meaningful map done by group competition, but also compensates the winner for high achievement.
A variety of learning materials, such as 'story star', 'brain storming', 'drawing a conceptual structure', 'level assesment material', which make the learning of polysemous words much more effective, are used in the overall lesson.
The role of polysemous words is considered very significant, for every words with their own meaning can not be created. Recently, as communication skill is getting important, the ability of distinguishing the meaning of words and using the words properly in accordance with each situation will be also valued. Therefore, teaching materials as well as well-organized teaching methods suitable for middle school level should be provided. Through this, the learners will be able to express themselves more effectively in real life situations.