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| Most English words, especially content words, have got various connotations besides denotations, which are essential in our daily verbal communication, but may become overwhelming for teachers and students to cope with in class. As a consequence, teaching and learning English words and their meanings are always challenging to non-native English teachers and students who are living in non-English speaking environments. Although various methods have been adopted in our daily teaching and learning, and great efforts are made continually, it is felt that less achievement has been gained than expected. To relieve anxiety and facilitate our English word teaching and learning, semantic consciousness is discussed in this paper, based on the semantic awareness, which is natural to native speakers. If semantic consciousness is developed and promoted, English teachers, especially non-native English speakers in non-English speaking environments, may become clear about how to teach English words pleasantly, efficiently and effectively, and students can feel it enjoyable and pleasant to learn English words. The paper briefly illustrates how to develop and promote semantic consciousness, which would be helpful to both teachers and students to improve our present practice in English word teaching and learning. |
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| Keywords:Semantic consciousness, denotation, connotation, word, teaching, learning |
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