Non-English Major Freshmen’s Perception and Practice of the Vocabulary Notebook as their Vocabulary Learning Strategy

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Wen Chien
Keyword(s):  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Word Families ◽  
English Majors ◽  
English Major ◽  
Major Data

<p>Freshmen English is one of the compulsory courses in universities in Taiwan. Vocabulary notebooks are<br />frequently advocated as a way for students to take control of their vocabulary learning (Fowle, 2002).<br />This study focuses on the perception and practice of 157 freshmen, who were all non-English majors, of<br />the vocabulary notebook as their vocabulary learning strategy. The major data in this study included<br />vocabulary notebooks, self-evaluation of keeping vocabulary notebooks, and instructional PowerPoint<br />files. The freshmen in this study had a positive attitude toward vocabulary notebooks, because<br />vocabulary notebooks helped them learn English words and increase their word knowledge,<br />particularly of word families. They used the vocabulary notebooks to review the lessons and prepare for<br />the exams. One interesting finding was that participants in this study preferred making their vocabulary<br />notebooks in hard copy on paper because they could easily carry the notebooks around and review the<br />lessons. Moreover, of all the required elements of the vocabulary notebooks, the learners found that<br />word families were the most useful, because they could memorize word families and use them to make<br />sentences. Suggestions are provided for how to make vocabulary notebooks an effective vocabulary<br />learning strategy.</p>

Deliberate Learning Of Second Language (L2) Vocabulary: Research-Based Guidelines

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
Syarifuddin .
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Word List ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Word Families ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Deliberate Learning ◽  
L2 Vocabulary

<p>This article is devoted to overviewing several current studies on L2 vocabulary learning, especially those aimed at investigating and exploring the ways in which deliberate vocabulary learning would be best facilitated, and thus would increase learning. It is argued that knowledge of vocabulary is fundamental in all language use, and becomes an essential part to master second language. A large amount of vocabulary is required to use English both receptively and productively: 8000 – 9000 word families needed in order to adequately comprehend a wide range of written discourse (Nation, 2006), and 2000 – 3000 word families required to get sufficient comprehension of spoken discourse (van Zeeland &amp; Schmitt, 2012). Knowing a lexical item entails several aspects of word knowledge i.e., form, meaning, and use, each of which is further comprised of several sub-aspects of word knowledge. In addition, vocabulary learning is incremental in nature. Taken all these into account, there should be a component of deliberate vocabulary learning in language teaching, regardless of the preferred teaching methods being applied. Most importantly, deliberate learning of vocabulary should be intensively focused on lexical items which fall into both the new GSL word list (Brezina &amp; Gablasova, 2015) and the new AWL word list (Coxhead, 2000). Finally, reviewing current studies on L2 vocabulary learning results in several research-based guidelines for deliberate or intentional vocabulary learning which are discussed throughout the rest of this article.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong><em>vocabulary learning, vocabulary size, word knowledge, high-frequency words, academic words, deliberately-learning-vocabulary guidelines</em><em> <strong></strong></em></p>

scholarly journals The Effect of Group Work on English Vocabulary Learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Fei Lin
Keyword(s):  
Group Work ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Classroom Intervention ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
English Major ◽  
Knowledge Scale ◽  
Reading Activities

This study investigated the effectiveness of group work (GW) in EFL vocabulary learning by second year, non-English major, university students in Taiwan, in comparison with working individually (IW). The students (N=44) worked in mixed ability groups of 3-4 or in IW to complete vocabulary exercises following reading activities. The classroom intervention followed a repeated measures design with alternating sessions (one week IW, one week GW) for 12 weeks. In order to measure students’ word knowledge gains, the modified vocabulary knowledge scale was used in pre-, post- and delayed-post tests, and the scores from the tests were analyzed with paired t tests. Qualitative information about vocabulary discovery and retention was further obtained from interviews with 24 students conducted after the classroom intervention. Results showed that students’ overall improvement in vocabulary knowledge with group work was significantly higher than that with individual work on immediate post-tests, though both treatments had a beneficial effect. Later retention of word knowledge after GW was only 2% higher than that with IW. Interpretations and implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Using Production-Oriented Approach in Business English Courses: Perceptions of China’s English-Major and Non-English-Major Undergraduates

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110165
Author(s):  
Qing Xie
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Business English ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
Curriculum Adaptation ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
English Majors ◽  
English Major ◽  
Oriented Approach

In light of pedagogical innovation, this study reports a two-stage survey with 172 participants from English-major and non-English-major programs on their needs of production-oriented approach and perceptions of effective implementation strategies in business English courses at a Chinese university. The results of the study suggest that while the two student groups used different learning methods, both valued communication with native speakers. While the two groups had different needs in business English reading, writing, and speaking activities, they also preferred listening to business news broadcasts. The two groups liked learning in case studies and case-based methodology. Based on the needs, a production-oriented teaching procedure is designed. For teaching activities, the students preferred simulation and role-play. As to their favorite teaching and learning materials, English-majors mentioned English news reading and videos, whereas non-English-majors liked theme-based reading materials. For curriculum adaptation and post-course practice, they suggested using communicative activities and more recent cases. The majority of the groups considered the teaching activities, materials, and activities as effective. Based on the different needs and perceptions, effective and tailored implementation strategies for a production-oriented approach in business English courses for the two student groups at this Chinese university context are suggested. Informed by production-oriented pedagogical theories, the results of the study may have significant implications for business English teaching reform and theoretical development in Chinese universities as well as other cultural and education settings in further innovating and refining the teaching and learning process.

Mobile-assisted vocabulary learning: Investigating receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge of Chinese EFL learners

ReCALL ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Christoph A. Hafner
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Mobile Platforms ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Learning Group ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
L2 Vocabulary

Abstract Considerable research has been conducted on the advancement of mobile technologies to facilitate vocabulary learning and acquisition in a second language (L2). However, whether mobile platforms lead to a comprehensive mastery of both receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge has seldom been addressed in previous literature. This study investigated English vocabulary learning from engagement with mobile-based word cards and paper word cards in the context of the Chinese university classroom. A total of 85 undergraduate students were recruited to take part in the study. The students were divided into two groups, a mobile learning group and a paper-based learning group, and tested on two word knowledge components: receptive knowledge of the form–meaning connection and productive knowledge of collocations. Both the digital and non-digital word cards enhanced L2 vocabulary learning, and the results showed that the mobile application (app) promoted greater gains than physical word cards.

The Trajectory of an Undergraduate Researcher

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-147
Author(s):  
Andrea Bresee ◽  
Joyce Kinkead
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
English Majors ◽  
English Major

Abstract This article focuses on the progress of an undergraduate English major on the scholarship continuum outlined by Laurie Grobman (2009). The student engaged in authentic research in a research methods course for English majors, a class that also meets a university requirement of “quantitative intensive,” and she completed two research projects of note. Her journey has implications and significance for faculty in designing undergraduate research experiences.

A review of vocabulary learning applications: From the aspects of cognitive approaches, multimedia input, learning materials, and game elements

2021 ◽  
pp. 250-272
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Feedback Systems ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Systematic Understanding ◽  
Game Elements

In recent years, mobile applications (apps) have been increasingly used and investigated as a vocabulary learning approach. Despite the extensive use of commercial English as a Foreign Language (EFL) vocabulary learning apps in China, there is a lack of a review of these apps for a systematic understanding of the components and usefulness of app-assisted vocabulary learning. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents a systematic review of 15 EFL vocabulary learning apps that were most downloaded in China, focusing on how these apps help students develop word knowledge. The results of this study showed that most apps enabled students to access word knowledge through translating words into their native language. Notably, word knowledge was usually presented through text-plus-image and text-plus-image-plus-audio. Most of these mobile apps provided sentence examples as vocabulary learning materials. Many of these apps were integrated with game elements, especially in interactivity or feedback systems and reward systems. Based on the review results, we have provided three recommendations to vocabulary learning app developers concerning the use of video for the input of word knowledge, the efficiency of vocabulary learning, and the integration of more game elements.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document