Built-in thematic based vocabulary learning environment on Minecraft.

Built-in thematic based vocabulary learning environment on Minecraft.

I'd like to share a random thought before I forget.

I am a strong believer of thematic based vocabulary learning as opposed to semantic clusters. It's true that we learn numbers and colors using semantic clustering; however, aside from that, I think learners remember words faster/better when they are presented under a specific schema. At lease this is what I believe how we built our vocabulary as we grew up.

Thematic vocabulary sets refer to a group of words that belong to a specific schema. In minecraft, to make a bed, learners need to wooden planks and wool. To get wool, we can shear a sheep to get wool or to craft wool from strings. Here "bed, wool, wood planks, string, sheep, and shear" are thematic sets.

Sure there are things that are present in semantic sets such as different types of wood planks, but you'd only come across one or two types of wood at a time. You don't remember all different types at once (as presented in textbooks). Some particular types of wood planks only exist in certain biomes.

Unlike EFL textbook curriculum where vocabulary are often introduced with semantic clusters so that sentence patterns can be practiced by drill and kill activities replacing words in semantic sets, learning new vocabulary in minecraft is more meaningful and situated within context relevant to the players.

Of course, this would apply to any other similar types of gaming. Please feel free to comment or disagree. =)

What are some thematic vocabulary for throwing a birthday party on MC?