1. Building Vocabulary
and Improving Writing
Skills through New
Generation English
The importance of the English Language in the global age can't be
minimised. It is a principal language for international communication and
gateway to the world body of knowledge. In view of these facts, the
English language is given great importance in the education system of
Nepal. "New Generation English" is a textbook prescribed for the 3-year
Bachelor of Education Program under T.U. As the title of the book
suggests, it has captured the spirit and the contents that the new
generation is most likely to encounter. It is because the time has changed
and courses should also change to meet the demands of the changing
time. Since my involvement in teaching English, I've been teaching
English as a foreign language to thousands of Nepali students. Majority
of the Students have been taught English as a body of knowledge in
preparation for multiple-choice exams through translation and
memorisation of grammatical rules. They aren't accustomed to studying
English for building vocabulary and improving writing skills. For many
years, I struggled with the problem of how to train my students to adopt
efficient writing strategies and I often wondered if this was an impossible
dream. But writing with right words in the right place is a challenging job
for every learner .As David Morley highlights on “Writing is a powerful
aid to various types of therapy............writing may contribute towards
self-development and self-awareness.” However teachers need effective
way to help students improve their writing and build their vocabulary.
My research suggests that best way to help students do these things is not
through manipulative or controlled writing exercises, but rather by paying
attention to the process that contribute to a finished piece of writing.
Writing and building vocabulary, that goes it, is a more complex
process than merely putting words on a page. In the process of acquiring
vocabulary, students need to understand not just what individual words
mean but also which combinations of these words in sentences or
paragraphs convey a meaningful message to the readers. To improve their
second language Proficiency English Language learners need a solid
knowledge of vocabulary. While a basic level of vocabulary allows
learners to communicate some ideas to a certain degree. At times not

2. knowing a specific vocabulary can severely limit the writing. As student
Our second language learners certainly recognise that insufficient
vocabulary is one of their biggest frustrations, but how important
vocabulary is in writing .As student move from writing personal essays to
writing formal academic texts in English, they face several challenges.
Writing on the academic subjects has been a troublesome task for our
students because it is not flexible type of writing.Simarly,the prescribed
book Academic Vocabulary in Use for the B.ed. 1st year might help the
students to learn the vocabularies and extended uses of words being
focused.One very important aspect of learning vocabulary is to organise
the words and expressions you meet; this will help you remember them
better.(McCarthy&O’Dell 10:2008)
New Generation English is an integrated course aimed at focusing
mainly on Reading and Writing and the texts included here cover wide
range of variety in terms of genre, theme, geography and socio-cultural
milieu. The book presents an interdisciplinary picture of various subjects,
topics, ideas and language varieties. Obviously the students could do
other writing activities to strengthen their vocabulary and writing skills
but given them opportunity to create a text based writing exposes them a
style if writing that relates to their reading habit and provides them with
an opportunity to be creative. Unless students can understand vocabulary
and its use, they are reluctant to the process of writing. Writing in New
Generation English requires long answers with critical thinking analysis,
assimilation. Here a large variety of writing exercises form letter to essay
composition, note making, parallel writing construction are included.
English language learners need to increase their vocabulary knowledge.
Given the time constraints of many learners, teachers should involve the
students in learning vocabularies which ultimately pave the way towards
writing. The teacher's ultimate goal is to help a student be active
vocabulary learners after they leave classroom.
Similarly extensive reading helps the readers to increase their
power in building the vocabulary and writing. But most students aren't
accustomed to read the texts and they believe in the readily available
second hand materials found in the cheaper markets. If the students read,
extensively, they not only improve their reading fluency but they also
build new vocabulary knowledge and expand their understanding of
words they knew before. Additionally extensive reading can help students
write better as well as improve their linguistic skills. The best result is
that students develop positive attitude towards reading/writing and
building vocabulary.
Teachers must help their students do well in their attempts and pass
the required examinations. However, at the same time teachers can
increase their student’s competency in English and help them become

3. influent reader and writer in English by engaging them in reading. It is
important to realise that the increased fluency, confidence and motivation
often result from reading and that will help students in their academic
performance and future career. A teacher can instead work within them,
shape them, refine them and exploit them for writing and building
vocabulary. The acquisition of writing skills, however, is never easy and
students need consistent practice to become a fluent writer. Successful
readers have to solve many puzzles, such as learning to recognise
unfamiliar words, syntax, discourses patterns. These challenges can be
overcome more easily if students are highly motivated to read and write.
But what can teachers do to motivate students to read and write in
English?
*Choosing reading topics that interest the students
*Offering a positive feedback
*Motivating and supporting with instructional guide lines.
In my teaching experience, I've found students improved English
writing abilities and vocabulary power. We teachers need to reconsider
our teaching pedagogy and move beyond traditional approaches that
focus on thematic interpretation of text. We need to nurture students'
motivational orientations that are likely to produce positive results.