Vreemde-Talenonderwijs: Platgetreden Paden en Nieuwe Wegen

The most frequently used Dutch language course for primary schools (Taal actief, 'Language actively') was analysed with respect to vocabulary teaching. The analysis was restricted to the materials for 'group 6' (children of about 10 years old). It was shown that vocabulary was part of the curriculum, but only in a limited and non-systematic way. Only about 350 words which seemed adequate for the age group considered were presented in the course material. Furthermore, the words seemed to be randomly selected. Relatively few of the tasks and exercises were directed at the learning of new words or new word meanings. Most tasks had to do with the relation between words, for example providing words with opposite meanings. Generally, the exercises did not aim at the acquisition of new words and meanings, but at the testing of word knowledge.