Lexical skills through NLP: an effective set of English language exercises for students of vocational education

Abstract

This article explores an innovative approach to developing lexical skills among students of secondary vocational education (SVE) through the use of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) techniques. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to increase the effectiveness of English language teaching under conditions of limited classroom time and low student motivation. Particular attention is given to NLP techniques such as representational systems (visual, auditory, kinesthetic), modeling successful speech behavior, and anchoring positive experiences. Based on these principles, a set of exercises was developed and tested, aimed at the active acquisition and productive use of lexical units in professionally oriented speech situations. A pedagogical experiment conducted at a vocational college revealed a significant improvement in vocabulary acquisition among students in the experimental group compared to the control group. Survey results also confirmed an increase in learning motivation, interest in the subject, and confidence in using English language. The practical significance of the proposed methodology lies in its universality and adaptability to various SVE specialties. The exercise set can be implemented both in traditional classroom settings and in distance learning formats, as well as used for students’ independent work. Thus, integrating NLP methods into the process of teaching English language enables a more individualized approach to each student, activates cognitive resources, and creates a strong motivational foundation for successfully mastering vocabulary in the context of vocational education.