scholarly journals Comparing Two Measures of L2 Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge Using the Association With Vocabulary Size

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Dabbagh ◽  
Mostafa Janebi Enayat
Keyword(s):  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Word Association Test ◽  
Vocabulary Depth ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Knowledge Scale

Abstract This study compared two tests of second language (L2) depth of vocabulary knowledge, namely the word association test (WAT) and vocabulary knowledge scale (VKS), with respect to their associations with vocabulary size. The same relationships were further examined separately for the five word-frequency bands of the vocabulary size test. To this end, 115 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners took the WAT, VKS, and Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT). Results of multiple linear regression analyses indicated that: (a) while both measures of vocabulary depth were predictive of the VLT, the WAT had a higher association with the dependent variable; (b) both the WAT and VKS were predictive of the high-frequency vocabulary, with the relationships being more significant for the WAT; (c) the WAT could significantly predict the mid-frequency vocabulary, whereas the VKS had no significant contribution; and (d) while the VKS was significantly associated with the low-frequency vocabulary, the WAT had no significant contribution to the prediction of this level. The findings are interpreted with reference to the suitability of both the WAT and VKS depending on the type of input, expected response, and desired frequency of the target words.

The Role of Vocabulary Breadth and Depth in Reading Comprehension: A Quantitative Study of Finnish EFL Learners

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1079
Author(s):  
Noora Harkio ◽  
Päivi Pietilä
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Comprehension Skills ◽  
Vocabulary Depth ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Matriculation Examination ◽  
Knowledge Scale ◽  
Reading Comprehension Skills

This article reports the results of a study on the relationship between second language vocabulary breadth, vocabulary depth, and reading comprehension. A special aim was to discover the role of vocabulary depth in the prediction and explanation of L2 learners’ reading comprehension. Two proficiency levels, intermediate and advanced, were compared. Vocabulary breadth was measured with the Vocabulary Size Test (Nation & Beglar, 2007), vocabulary depth with the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (Wesche & Paribakht, 1996), and reading comprehension with a test compiled of sections from two former matriculation examination tasks. The three constructs showed strong positive correlations in both groups of subjects. However, based on the results, vocabulary breadth and depth seem to be stronger predictors of reading comprehension skills in lower levels of proficiency than on the advanced level.

scholarly journals Effects of reading Strategies and Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge on Turkish EFL Learners’ Text Inferencing Skills

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Abdulvahit Cakir ◽  
Ihsan Unaldi ◽  
Fadime Yalcin Arslan ◽  
Mehmet Kilic
Keyword(s):  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Association Test ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Word Association Test ◽  
Major Implication ◽  
National Test ◽  
Significant Factors

<p>Within the framework of foreign language teaching and learning, reading strategies, depth of vocabulary knowledge and text inferencing skills have not been researched extensively. This study tries to fill this gap by analyzing the effects of reading strategies used by Turkish EFL learners and their depth of vocabulary knowledge on their text inferencing skills. Three different measures were used in the study: Word Association Test (WAT), Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI), and inferencing questions used in a standardized national test. The association test and reading strategies scores were regressed on inferencing scores of the participants. The results revealed that depth of vocabulary knowledge was a better predictor of inferencing skills compared to reading strategies. However, the model created by using these two predictors accounted for only 15% of the variance, and the major implication of this result is that there are other more significant factors which affect text inferencing skills of EFL learners than reading strategies and depth of vocabulary knowledge.</p>

scholarly journals A Comparative Study on Second Language Vocabulary Development: Study Abroad vs. Classroom Settings

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio F. Jiménez Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Contrast Study ◽  
Language Experience ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Word Association Test ◽  
Frequency Of Use

This paper aims to achieve a better understanding of the process of vocabulary acquisition in both classroom and study abroad contexts. For this purpose, a three-word association test was developed in order to assess both learners’ vocabulary size and depth of lexical knowledge (that is, synonyms, antonyms, metaphors, collocates, frequency of use, metonyms, etc.). The test was distributed among six groups, three of which were comprised of students of Spanish at different university levels, without any experience abroad. The fourth group consisted of L2 learners who had been in study abroad programs in Spanish speaking countries for a period time of five months. A cluster of high proficiency L2 speakers of Spanish formed the fifth group. The sixth group, the control group, was comprised by native speakers of Spanish. The results suggest that classroom instruction does not offer the appropriate language experience to foster lexicon development either in size or in-depth of vocabulary knowledge. In contrast, study abroad students experiences an increase in both levels of vocabulary knowledge.

scholarly journals Probing the Relationship between Vocabulary Knowledge and Listening Comprehension of Iranian Lower-Intermediate EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Taghi Farvardin ◽  
Leila Valipouri
Keyword(s):  
Listening Comprehension ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Test Word ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Powerful Predictor ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Vocabulary Depth ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pearson Correlations

This study probed the relationship between vocabulary knowledge (i.e., size and depth) and listening comprehension of Iranian lower-intermediate EFL learners. To this end, 80 lower-intermediate EFL learners in Ahvaz, Iran, were selected. This study also investigated the predictive power of the vocabulary size and depth in lower-intermediate EFL learners’ listening comprehension. To this end, three tests (i.e., Vocabulary Levels Test, Word Associates Test, and a listening comprehension test) were administered to the participants. The results of Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses revealed that vocabulary depth had a higher relationship with the listening comprehension scores (r = 0.43, p < .01). In addition, vocabulary depth proved to be a more powerful predictor of listening comprehension scores. 

scholarly journals Vocabulary Size and Depth of Knowledge: A Study of Bahraini EFL Learners

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Adel W. Alqallaf ◽  
Madani O. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
University Of Bahrain ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigates the size and depth of vocabulary knowledge and its relationship to the general language proficiency of EFL learners. The study sample included 120 students from the University of Bahrain. The sample was randomly selected from the student population and split into two groups in terms of their level of English: intermediate and advanced. The study aims to answer four questions: (1) What is the effect of general language proficiency on the sizes of the receptive and productive vocabularies of learners of English at the University of Bahrain? (2) How does general language proficiency affect the depth of vocabulary knowledge of learners of English at the University of Bahrain? (3) What is the relationship between receptive and productive vocabularies and the depth of vocabulary knowledge? and (4) What is the relationship between vocabulary size and the nature of lexical networking? All the students in the sample completed three vocabulary tasks. The first two tasks were Meara and Jones&rsquo;s Eurocentres Vocabulary Size Test (1990) and Meara and Fitzpatrick&rsquo;s Lex30 word association task (2000), which were used to measure the sizes of receptive and productive vocabularies. The third task was Gyllstad&rsquo;s COLLEX test (2007), which was used to investigate the depth of vocabulary knowledge. A quasi-experimental approach was adopted using a quantitative approach to analyze the data. The data of the study were analyzed by comparing the results of the two groups in relation to the three tasks using SPSS 16.0. The findings of the study have revealed that general language proficiency has a positive effect on learners&rsquo; receptive vocabulary size, a moderate effect on learners&rsquo; productive vocabulary size, and a very low effect on the depth of vocabulary knowledge. In addition, no relationship was shown between the size of vocabulary and the nature of lexical networking. With reference to these results, pedagogical and future research recommendations are made.

scholarly journals The Impact of Vocabulary Knowledge on the Reading Comprehension of Saudi EFL Learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Fadi Al-Khasawneh
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Educational Stakeholders ◽  
Word Families ◽  
Written Texts ◽  
Vocabulary Depth ◽  
The Impact

Vocabulary knowledge is the building block of learning a second language and the degree of success for learning any language depends on the amount of vocabulary a learner possesses. Vocabulary knowledge contributes to mastering language skills (reading, listening, writing, and speaking). Therefore, the present study aims at determining the role of vocabulary size in reading comprehension among Saudi EFL learners. The participants of this study included 64 male students who studied at the first level in the academic year 2018/2019 at King Khalid University. Both the Vocabulary Size Test developed by (Schmitt et al.) and reading comprehension test taken from the TOEFL preparation manual were used to collect the necessary data for the study. The results of the study revealed that the overall vocabulary size of Saudi EFL learners was 2025 word families. This amount helps students to comprehend 90% of written texts as pointed out by many researchers in this field. The results also showed a significant relationship between vocabulary size and reading comprehension. Vocabulary knowledge is an important predictor for comprehending written texts. The study provides some implications for educational stakeholders such as putting more emphasis on teaching vocabulary and using different teaching strategies that assist in the acquisition of vocabulary in general and academic vocabulary in particular. Keywords: vocabulary knowledge; vocabulary depth; vocabulary breadth; reading comprehension; Saudi EFL learners.

scholarly journals Effects of Enhancement Techniques on L2 Incidental Vocabulary Learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Shiping Duan
Keyword(s):  
Incidental Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
New Words ◽  
Incidental Vocabulary ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Incidental Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Knowledge Scale

Enhancement Techniques are conducive to incidental vocabulary learning. This study investigated the effects of two types of enhancement techniques-multiple-choice glosses (MC) and L1 single-gloss (SG) on L2 incidental learning of new words and retention of them. A total of 89 university learners of English as a Freign Language (EFL) were asked to read the same reading texts with the two types of glossing and no glossing. Vocabulary acquisition was measured with the vocabulary knowledge scale (VKS). The results indicated that there were obvious vocabulary gains for both MC and SG groups. MC glossing is more conducive to incidental vocabulary learning than SG glossing in both immediate and delayed vocabulary post test. What’s more, learners with larger vocabulary size demonstrated much more significant gains than those with small ones.

scholarly journals A Study of Relationship Between Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge and Semantic Set in Iranian EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Used in Writing

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. p77
Author(s):  
Parisa Barkhodari
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Intermediate Level ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Writing Performance ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Intermediate Learners

This study investigated the Relationship between Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge and Semantic Set in Iranian EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Used in Writing. The purpose of this study was to see the role of depth of vocabulary knowledge in making appropriate choices among words in a semantic set in EFL learners’ writing performance. 70 lower-intermediate and upper-intermediate learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) from the language learners of English institute in Bandar Abbas, Iran participated in this study. Instruments for the data collection include Word Association Test (WAT), Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS), and four writing tests. In the first phase, using MANOVA statistical procedure for data analysis, the role of depth of vocabulary knowledge in writing performance and appropriate use of words in a semantic set in overall writing quality was investigated. The second part of the study attempted to explore the role of appropriate use of words in a semantic set in the participants’ overall writing performance using independent sample t-test. Finally, attempts were made to identify the role of depth of vocabulary knowledge and appropriate use of words in a semantic set in the overall use of words in the participants’ writings using a two-way ANOVA as the data analysis technique. The results of the data analysis provided empirical evidence supporting that: a) depth of vocabulary knowledge played a fundamental role in appropriate use of words in a semantic set in lower-intermediate level but not in upper-intermediate level, b) depth of vocabulary knowledge has a significant role in overall writing performance only in upper-intermediate level, c) using words appropriately in a semantic set played a significant role in writing performance of the lower-intermediate participants, while the opposite was revealed for the upper-intermediate group, d) the upper-intermediate learners could benefit from their knowledge of depth of vocabulary in using words, in general, correctly and appropriately. The findings promise some pedagogical implications for vocabulary and writing curriculum development, material development, and course designing.

scholarly journals A Study on the Relationship between English Reading Comprehension and English Vocabulary Knowledge

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-han Ma ◽  
Wen-ying Lin
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Morphological Knowledge ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
English Reading

The present study aimed to investigate the overall and relative contribution of four subcomponents of vocabulary knowledge to reading comprehension. The four vocabulary subcomponents were vocabulary size, word association knowledge, collocation knowledge, and morphological knowledge. The participants were 124 college students from a university in Taipei, Taiwan. Six instruments were employed: (1) a reading comprehension test, (2) a vocabulary size test, (3) a test on word association knowledge and collocation knowledge, (4) a test of morphological knowledge, (5) motivation attitude scale, and (6) a self-efficacy scale. The results can be summarized as follows. First, after the effects of motivation and self-efficacy have been controlled, the four vocabulary subcomponents altogether contributed significantly (20%) to reading comprehension performance. Moreover, depth of vocabulary knowledge (including word association knowledge, collocation knowledge, and morphological knowledge) provided an additional explained variance (6%) in reading comprehension performance over and above vocabulary size. Finally, among the three subcomponents of depth of vocabulary knowledge, collocation knowledge explained the most proportion of variance (5.6%) in contributing to performance on reading comprehension. Based on these findings, some implications and suggestions for future research were provided.

Multi-Faceted Morphological Awareness and Vocabulary Knowledge in English as a Second Language Learners: A Multivariate Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang Haomin ◽  
Zhuang Bilü
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Morphological Awareness ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Vocabulary Depth

AbstractThis study investigates the role of morphological awareness in ESL vocabulary acquisition. Participants were 198 Chinese college students enrolled in a joint program which required them to study in China for the first two years and then study in the U.K. to complete their degrees. They completed a total of four paper-and-pencil tests: morpheme discrimination, morpheme recognition, vocabulary size test (VST) and word associates test (WAT) tests. We drew upon path analysis to explore the interconnected relationships among multiple explanatory variables (facets of morphological awareness) and outcome variables (facets of vocabulary knowledge). The results demonstrated that English derivational awareness was strongly predictive of both ESL vocabulary breadth and ESL vocabulary depth, and that preexisting ESL vocabulary breadth could enhance the relation between derivational awareness and ESL vocabulary depth. To summarize, these results indicate that an improved English derivational awareness not only helps to expand ESL vocabulary size but can also consolidate learners’ deep understanding of word properties, which will in turn assist them to establish connections with other associative words and phrases.

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