astronomy

Norbert Schmitt

Norbert Schmitt is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Norbert Schmitt rather than just read about it. In short: Norbert Schmitt (born 23 January 1956) is an American applied linguist and Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. He is known for his work on second-language vocabulary acquisition and second-language vocabulary teaching.

Key takeaways

Norbert Schmitt belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Norbert Schmitt to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Norbert Schmitt from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Norbert Schmitt (born 23 January 1956) is an American applied linguist and Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. He is known for his work on second-language vocabulary acquisition and second-language vocabulary teaching. He has published numerous books and papers on vocabulary acquisition.

Research Norbert Schmitt began his career in 1988 as an EFL teacher in Japan and quickly became interested in how language learners acquire their second languages. During his Masters study at Temple University, Japan, he began researching how students learn vocabulary in particular. He extended this interest in vocabulary through his PhD research at the University of Nottingham in 1994. Upon completion of his PhD in 1997, he joined the University of Nottingham staff, and taught there until his retirement in September 2020. He is now Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics. Prof. Schmitt has researched second language vocabulary issues for over 25 years, and his interests have broadened to all aspects of lexical study, including vocabulary testing, formulaic language, corpus-based research, and the interface between vocabulary knowledge and the ability to read and listen in English. A number of his accomplishments include: • The book Language Power which describes 100 language issues important to the general population • Nine books on vocabulary and applied linguistics issues (plus two more forthcoming and one contracted) • Over 60 international journal articles • Over 100 total article and book chapters • Introduction of new terminology in the field of vocabulary, including: word knowledge, mid-frequency vocabulary, engagement, form recall, meaning recall • The introduction of psycholinguistic research techniques like eye-tracking into the study of formulaic language • Co-development of a standard second language vocabulary test: the Vocabulary Levels Test • Graduation of over 10 PhD students who are making their own important contributions to applied linguistics Prof. Schmitt’s background and publications can be found on his personal website at www.norbertschmitt.co.uk

Publications Prof. Schmitt has published a number of books and many articles in major journals, including Applied Linguistics, Language Learning, Journal of Second Language Writing, Language Testing, System, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Language Teaching Research, Language Teaching, and Second Language Research.

Bibliography

Books Schmitt, N. & McCarthy, M. (1997). Vocabulary: Description, acquisition and pedagogy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. New York: Cambridge University Press. Schmitt, N. (2002). An Introduction to applied linguistics. London: Arnold. Schmitt, N. (2004). Formulaic sequences: Acquisition, processing, and use. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Schmitt, D. & Schmitt, N. (2005). Focus on vocabulary: : Mastering the academic word list. White Plains, NY: Longman. Schmitt, N. & Marsden, R. (2009). Why is English like that: Historical answers to hard ELT questions. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. Schmitt, N. (2010). Researching Vocabulary: A Vocabulary Research Manual. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Schmitt, D., Schmitt, N., & Mann, D. (2005). Focus on vocabulary: : Bridging Vocabulary. White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman. Schmitt, N. & Schmitt, D. (2020). Vocabulary in language teaching (2nd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Schmitt, N., Dunn, K., O'Sullivan, B., Anthony, L., and Kremmel, B. (forthcoming in 2022). Knowledge-based vocabulary lists. London: Equinox. Schmitt, N. (forthcoming). Language Power. Schmitt, N. (contracted). Vocabulary: A Complex, Integrated, Incremental Perspective. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Norbert Schmitt

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Norbert Schmitt claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Norbert Schmitt before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Norbert Schmitt ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Norbert Schmitt

In research: Norbert Schmitt appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Norbert Schmitt in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Norbert Schmitt is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1956 births, Alumni of the University of Nottingham, Applied linguists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Norbert Schmitt outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Norbert Schmitt in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Norbert Schmitt means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Norbert Schmitt out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Norbert Schmitt in simple terms?

Why does Norbert Schmitt matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Norbert Schmitt?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Norbert Schmitt.