Abstract:

The problem of vocabulary teaching has always been the subject of continual methodological scrutiny. Researchers and teachers have been in search of new methods and techniques in teaching vocabulary in ESL classes. As it is known, antonymy is a universal phenomenon inherent in all natural languages. Antonyms, opposites play a big role in the speech-activity of people speaking different languages. Moreover, they are a significant expressive mean of contrast. Ways of thinking and comprehension of opposite relationships are one for all people on the planet, regardless of the language they speak. Reliance on these similarities in the expression of opposite relationships gives us reason to believe that the assimilation of antonyms in teaching ESL students is one of the effective ways of learning new words and improving the vocabulary. This article draws attention to the common sides in the antonymy of native and learned languages and shows the advantages of using these similarities when teaching English in a foreign language audience. The leading approach to the study of this research problem is a comparative study of the types of opposition inherent in both English and Tatar languages, namely, directional, gradual, converse and contrary opposition. As a result of studying the problem, we can come to the conclusion that these types of oppositions are equally well represented by the equivalent vocabulary in English and Tatar languages. Therefore, the teaching new vocabulary in ESL classes with reliance on the opposite nature of antonymic units, will undoubtedly serve as a methodological basis for the creation of a variety of exercises and assignments. The article can be useful for further study of teaching English vocabulary in a foreign-language audience.

Keywords:

Student, language, education, ESL classes, vocabulary, antonyms.