scholarly journals Effects of Student Collaboration on ESL Learners’ Vocabulary Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Adlina Ariffin

Abstract: This paper describes a research which attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of student collaboration as a technique in improving vocabulary development among a group of ESL learners. The main motivation behind this study was due to the concern that vocabulary has become a neglected area in the teaching of English language. The main aims of the study were to evaluate whether student collaboration helped to improve students’ vocabulary and the extent of the improvement. Two types of data were collected during the research – qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative data were collected from the teacher’s observation, students’ journals and interview; while, the quantitative data were collected from the pre-test and post-test. The results from the t-test indicated that students did make an improvement in their vocabulary knowledge after they had studied together collaboratively. Besides that, student collaboration was found to be an effective technique in teaching vocabulary because the interaction that students made during their discussion helped them to improve other language skills such as reading, listening and speaking, gave them opportunities to participate in their own learning, built their self-confidence in interacting with the group members and cultivated a sharing attitude among them.   Keywords: Collaborative learning, ESL learners, Student collaboration, Vocabulary development

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulmalik Usman ◽  
Dahiru Musa Abdullahi

The paper seeks to investigate the level of productive knowledge of ESL learners, the writing quality and the relationship between the vocabulary knowledge and the writing quality. 150 final year students of English language in a university in Nigeria were randomly selected as respondents. The respondents were asked to write an essay of 300 words within one hour. The essays were typed into Vocab Profiler of Cobb (2002) and analyzed the Lexical Frequency Profile of the respondents. The essays were also assessed by independent examiners using a standard rubric. The findings reveal that the level of productive vocabulary knowledge of the respondents is limited. The writing quality of the majority of the respondent is fair and there is a significant correlation between vocabulary and the witting quality of the subjects. The researchers posit that productive vocabulary is the predictor of writing quality and recommend various techniques through which teaching and learning of vocabulary can be improved.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Liju Xu

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of vocabulary enhancement activities on vocabulary learning in an ESP course. In designing the activities, technical terms on journal entries were chosen for the acquisition of language necessary for the successful implementation of accounting major’s professional tasks. The desirable difficulty approach and the four strands principle,focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning and fluency development, were guidelines in combining subject matter and English language learning. To test the result of the activities, the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale was employed to measure students’ knowledge of 50 vocabulary items. Subjects of the ESP course in discussion comprised 200 accounting juniors in Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in China. Half of them in Group A read the texts and did matching exercises and translation exercises. The other half in Group B read the texts and practiced journal entry activity, targeting at accounting concepts and terminologies. The results revealed that Group B gained better results than Group A at a post-test. After the test a reflection on the vocabulary activities was gathered among the participants of Group B. The feedback further proved that the students did benefit from the enhancement activities on selected technical terms.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prisla Devi Krishnan ◽  
Melor Md Yunus

Emphasis on English language proficiency and digital literacy among Malaysian students in schools have been given utmost priority in the Malaysian Education Transformation (2013 – 2025). With the introduction of Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), (Council of Europe, 2001) the emphasize for low proficient students to acquire vocabulary knowledge is crucial for them to move progressively into the next band as stated in the CEFR global scales. Yet, concerns arises as how the implementation of (CEFR) will impact the low proficient students with almost none to limited vocabulary acquisition. This poses an extremely high risk of these students being left far behind as English is a second language to most students. Thus, the aim of this study is to use blended learning to expand the vocabulary acquisition among low proficient students and enable them to move progressively in the CEFR band. The mixed method study employed questionnaires, face to face interviews, pre and post test and observations to collect data from 20 low proficient students aged 14 from a semi urban secondary school. Data collected were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The study found that using blended learning not only enhances low proficient students vocabulary count in CEFR English but it also promotes autonomous learning and understanding of sentence structures. Hence, the use of blended learning proves to be a crucial alternative for low proficient students to enhance their vocabulary knowledge and understanding of sentence structures through digital literacy that is capable of motivating and challenging them to achieve their highest potential.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-243
Author(s):  
Khomkrit Tachom

This study aimed to examine the development of EFL students' vocabulary knowledge adopting a task-based method with 32 Thai students who enrolled in an English for Communication course at a university in northern Thailand. This study emphasized improving the Thai EFL students’ English vocabulary knowledge by requiring students to retell six Thai folktales in English translation to their group members. The pretest-posttest design, as well as an interview, were employed to indicate the students' vocabulary improvement after retelling Thai folktales. The findings showed that the students' post-test scores were statistically higher than their pre-test scores, and the students felt that the folktale tasks helped them enhance their vocabulary knowledge. The results of this study indicate that the students learned English vocabulary in an engaging and meaningful way through storytelling; therefore, the students’ vocabulary retention is likely high.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1227-1247
Author(s):  
Mohd Haniff Mohd Tahir ◽  
Dianna Suzieanna Mohamad Shah ◽  
Mohamad Syafiq Ya Shak ◽  
Intan Safinas Mohd Ariff Albakri ◽  
Airil Haimi Mohd Adnan

Per its English curriculum, vocabulary instruction is only integrated indirectly in the teaching of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in Malaysian schools. ESL learners then may overlook the variety of meanings that a word and its spelling can offer. This research aims to describe the effects of the explicit approach of vocabulary instruction on 30 Form Two (eighth grade) students from a suburban school in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. A descriptive style was adopted, and specific vocabulary lessons were used to help students learn the target words. Using descriptive statistics, vocabulary pre- and post-test scores were analysed and compared to determine the impact of this approach. The frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation of the students’ evaluation form responses were analysed. Content analysis was used to transcribe, classify, and categorise qualitative data from the interview session. According to the data, the students’ vocabulary scores increased dramatically in the post-test, with a mean gap of 21.9. The students were also enthusiastic about the teacher’s instructions (M=4.48, SD=0.64) and vocabulary lessons (M=4.34, SD=0.59). It is suggested that the explicit approach of vocabulary instruction, which engages students in exciting vocabulary learning techniques as employed by this study could enhance their vocabulary knowledge. 


Author(s):  
Ilyana Jalaluddin ◽  
◽  
Lilliati Ismail ◽  
Ramiza Darmi

Difficulty in learning gives huge impact to the process of language discovery among school children. LINUS students are categorized in this group and regarded as Low Achiever (LA) regardless of their education level. Currently, schools are provided with traditional learning materials such as textbook prepared by the Ministry of Education and it is up to the teachers’ own creativity and initiative to turn the materials into a more interesting learning source [1], [2]. However, depending solely on these learning materials alone is not enough as these children will easily lose their attention as they become bored and finally lost interest to proceed with the learning process [3]. Therefore, there is a need to utilize the elements of technology in order to motivate and facilitate these LINUS students in learning vocabulary in English. This experimental study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using mobile augmented reality (MAR) application in vocabulary learning among LINUS students. 45 students were involved and the development of MAR in vocabulary learning in this study was investigated based on the ADDIE Instructional Design (ID) method as a framework. As a form of measurement, British Picture Vocabulary Scale (BPVS) III was used and findings showed that there was a significant improvement in the post test after 6 months of MAR implementation. Although this study showed an encouraging results, there was still lack of skills in terms of writing the words learnt via augmented reality. The results of this study provide the discussion on the practicality of using Augmented Reality to help the struggling learners to cope with acquiring and learning English language in ESL context.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 238
Author(s):  
Hamed Barjesteh ◽  
Lida Farsi

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between age range and vocabulary learning among pre-intermediate Iranian EFL learners. To this aim, 50 pre-intermediate Iranian EFL learners, male (N= 20) and female (N=30), were selected from a private language institute based on their performance on the Oxford Placement Test (OPT). They were divided into two groups: teenager and adult learners. Before intervention, a pretest of vocabulary was conducted to determine students’ vocabulary knowledge.  Then, vocabularies were presentenced in dialog, word power and reading texts using a monolingual dictionary in five sessions interval for the both groups. After the intervention, a post-test of vocabulary was administered to examine the possible improvement. The data obtained from the administration of the pre-test and the post-test were analyzed using SPSS software. The results revealed that there was no significant relationship between the performance of teenager and adult groups in their vocabulary learning; and there was no significant difference between the performance of teenager and adult groups in their vocabulary learning. This research potentially has some implications that may help English language teachers, students, EFL learners and educational syllabus designers.


Author(s):  
Bethany Marie Lumabi

Purpose: This study investigates the improvement in the language proficiency of selected college students using the Task-Based Dictation in an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom. Approach/Methodology/Design: The results of the tests scores are statistically analyzed using the measurement of central tendency. The mean is used to determine the total scores of the students in listening, writing, reading and speaking during the pre-test, TBD training, and post-test dictation. Then, each mean score is presented and interpreted using an adopted quantitative description, while the students’ outputs, the teachers’ observations during the conduct of the tests, and the informal interview and survey with college teachers validate the test results. Findings: Evidently, the scores of the college students in all the skills (listening, writing, reading, and speaking) have increased from novice in the pre-test to competent in the Task-based dictation (TBD) and post-test. Moreover, the teachers’ observations show that TBD provides opportunities for student-entered learning such as small group discussions/collaborations, peer feedback, systematic writing, critical analysis, and problem solving. Practical Implications: Through TBD, periodicals help college students develop their listening and writing skills, raise awareness on problematic language areas, and avoid biases in analyzing texts. Originality/value: Indeed, despite its limitations, this study answered the reservations of dictation in improving the English language proficiency of college students by increasing their competencies of their macro skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking).


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harwati Hashim ◽  
Karmila Rafiqah M. Rafiq ◽  
Melor Md Yunus

Aligning with the Industrial Revolution 4.0, an abundance of high-tech inventions has embarked their pavements in the educational field. Despite being under the 21st-century umbrella, the English language proficiency of Asian learners is still a few steps behind. Undeniably, most of the English as a Second Language (ESL) learners in Asian countries face challenges in learning ESL grammar. Grammar has been an intricate component to master due to its nature of complexity. This study aimed at exploring the effectiveness of using online language games in improving ESL learners' grammar. A total of 30 students in a secondary school were involved in this research. The research design of the quasi-experimental method was used, employing the pre and post-test. Data were analyzed using percentages to compare the results after three interventions of gamified-learning known as Socrative, PowerPoint Challenge Game, and Kahoot! The main findings indicated that learners’ scores on the grammar post-test showed a significant increase from the pre-test. The improvements can be seen in the grading system, whereby, no participant obtained a grade D and E in the post-test as compared to the pre-test. Hence, the results depicted that gamified-learning is effective in teaching grammar to ESL learners.


EDULANGUE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-82
Author(s):  
Kamarudin Kamarudin ◽  
Tawali Tawali ◽  
Muhammad Muhlisin

This research aims at finding out whether Course Review Horray strategy has effect to promote students’ self-confidence in learning vocabulary at the seventh grade students of MA NW Senyiur Keruak Lotim or not. This research rises since the use of English vocabulary plays crucial roles of mastering English language. Students will gain a huge number of benefits in which they can cope with various vocabulary items. For instance; students will automatically convince their self to speak up fluently where they know much of variety of vocabulary. This phenomenon comes up along with students of MA NW Senyiur Keruak Lotim. This research was a quasi-experimental with two group pre-test and post-test design. The population was all the students of the seventh grade at MA NW Senyiur Keruak Lotim consisted of 74 students from 3 classes. The samples of this research were 2 classes consisted of 25 students each group.  The experimental group was treated by using Course Review Horray strategy and control group was using Engage Study and Activate Strategy. The instruments of collecting the data were vocabulary test and questionnaire. After the data analysis completed, it was found that the questionnaire of students’ percentage was 56% the students got qualification A as criteria Student master 90%-100% of all indicators, 24% students get qualification as B master 80%-89% of all indicators, 16% students get qualification as C master 65%-79% of all indicators, 4% students get qualification as D master 55%-64% and 0% students got qualification as E master 0%-54% of all indicators. The number of T-test score was (2.865) > T-table (2.011). So, Course Review Horray (CRH) has effect towards students’ self-condident in learning English vocabulary


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