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Semantization of Polysemantic Vocabulary in English Lessons in High School

https://doi.org/10.26907/2658-3321.2026.9.1.7-19

Abstract

The article contributes to solving the problem of removing difficulties in teaching English, caused by such a feature of English vocabulary as a large number of polysemantic words. The article describes a methodologically appropriate approach to the semantization stage in organizing the mastery of polysemantic lexemes of the English language at high stage of comprehensive school. The authors analyze the difficulties that a teacher faces in the process of implementing educational activities and substantiate the need to adjust the organization of the lesson taking into account the specifics of working with polysemantic vocabulary in the case of the presence of polysemantic lexical units in the list of words to be learned in addition to monosemic ones. As a basis for developing an approach to the special organization of the process of semantization of polysemantic lexemes, the authors consider the essence of the linguistic phenomenon of polysemy. The article presents the features of the phenomenon of polysemy, which are of fundamental importance for the development of the technological aspect of this approach. The authors adjust the list of methods traditionally proposed for semantization of vocabulary in foreign language lessons in accordance with the needs of the approach being developed, arguing the changes made with the characteristics of polysemantic words. The theoretical provisions of the study are illustrated in the article with examples of semantization of polysemantic lexical units proposed for assimilation in the teaching and methodological kit for senior school.

About the Authors

A. D. Astafieva
Lipetsk State Pedagogical P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky University
Russian Federation

Astafeva Alla Demyanovna – Lecturer

Lipetsk



O. I. Stepashkina
Lipetsk State Pedagogical P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky University
Russian Federation

Stepashkina Oksana Ivanovna – Candidate of Pedagogy, Associate Professor

Lipetsk



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Review

For citations:


Astafieva A.D., Stepashkina O.I. Semantization of Polysemantic Vocabulary in English Lessons in High School. Kazan linguistic journal. 2026;9(1):7-19. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2658-3321.2026.9.1.7-19

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ISSN 3033-8751 (Online)