FROM MEMORIZATION TO MEANINGFUL USE: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO VOCABULARY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

This article examines the paradigm shift in language pedagogy from rote memorization of vocabulary towards instructional strategies that foster meaningful acquisition and active usage. Traditional methods often result in inert knowledge, where learners recognize words but fail to employ them accurately in appropriate contexts. This paper synthesizes current research on innovative, meaning-based approaches, including contextual learning, task-based instruction, technological integration, and metacognitive strategies. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from the Lexical Approach and the Depth of Processing Hypothesis, it argues for a holistic model that integrates form, meaning, and use. The findings, based on a review of empirical studies, indicate that methods emphasizing contextual inference, collocational competence, and productive creation significantly enhance long-term retention, lexical fluency, and learners' ability to use vocabulary communicatively. The article concludes with practical implications for educators and material developers to design more effective vocabulary-building ecosystems within the language classroom.