scholarly journals Collaborative and Individual Vocabulary Building Using ICT

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-48
Author(s):  
Štěpánka Bilová

Abstract Vocabulary knowledge affects any learner’s general language proficiency and the lack of vocabulary is often seen as an obstacle in a student’s progress. This statement becomes even truer when considering languages for specific purposes as the knowledge of technical vocabulary is closely connected to mastering professional skills. The research on vocabulary learning distinguishes two types of learning, incidental and intentional, which should complement each other. One of the most efficient intentional strategies proved to be the use of flashcards. Modern technologies have contributed to further development of this rather popular method by offering new ways of vocabulary consolidation as well as novel forms of interaction. The main objective of the paper is to introduce a teaching methodology aimed at the intentional building of students’ vocabulary, however, at the same time making students being aware of a broader context in which a word or a collocation is used. The presented methodology involves student generated and recycled content as well as the use of electronic tools, namely Google docs and Quizlet. In the course of three subsequent spring semesters, students first created a Google Docs collaborative learning log with lists of vocabulary, the following year’s students uploaded the lists of definitions and translations into Quizlet sets and in the final year the words in Quizlet flashcards where supplemented with example sentences. Students’ performance showed that both Google Docs and Quizlet are efficient tools not only for vocabulary learning, but also for language teaching. The proposed methodology was used in legal English classes, however, it can be implemented in any language course.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariko Matsubara ◽  
Haruyo Yoshida

Purpose: This paper investigated that (1) the effective use of content-based ICT methods of vocabulary acquisition through reading activities, and (2) the encouragement of learner's vocabulary building up autonomous learning. A considerable number of studies have been conducted on vocabulary acquisition in the EFL field in Japan,and researchers advocate vocabulary knowledge is the most important factor contributing to reading comprehension, yet, a firm effective pedagogy has not been established. In fact, university students encounter difficulties in reading comprehension because of their deficiencies in vocabulary knowledge during English reading class. Methodology: The free applications, Quizlet and Kahoot!, were adopted to incorporate language-focused learning while adding some gamification aspects to aid in vocabulary acquisition. The experiment was conducted in a Japanese undergraduate first-year reading class over an 11-week period. Quizlet was used for vocabulary learning prior to the reading class. Students were given multiple-choice vocabulary Cloze tests of new words from the textbook using Kahoot!, a free game-based educational platform. Main Findings: The results of this study indicated that content-based vocabulary instruction using ICT is effective and improves learner’s academic performance in vocabulary acquisition. Moreover, questionnaires were thoroughly reviewed and uncovered that students felt they developed more autonomy and this enhanced their motivation for vocabulary learning. Implications: In view of this study, ICT methods closely related to reading contexts and a variety of applications for vocabulary acquisition and improvement of reading performance should be introduced in EFL classrooms. Originality: This study was conducted in a Japanese undergraduate first-year reading class by author researcher.


2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Dibaj

The purpose of this study is to compare the vocabulary learning of monolingual learners of English as a second language with bilingual learners of English as a third language. The study is based on data from 52 monolingual Persian-speaking learners of English and 45 bilingual Azeri-Persian-speaking learners of English. All the participants were females studying English as a foreign language at two universities in Iran. The informants were exposed to two incidental and four intentional vocabulary learning exercises. They were then measured at four difficulty levels using the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (Paribakht & Wesche, 1997). Variables such as English language proficiency, intelligence, family educational background, gender, age and type of university were controlled. The third language learners outperformed their second language counterparts at all word difficulty levels. The findings are discussed in relation to bilinguals’ higher level of executive and inhibitory control.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-23
Author(s):  
Luis Enrique Aulestia Vallejo ◽  
Mirian Cuenca Fernández

The aim of this research was to investigate the use of ESP vocabulary in general English classes to improve English, by using the student-centered learning approach, concentrating mainly on reading skills. For the study case, 123 students of different careers offered at Central University of Ecuador, English A1.2, A2.2 levels, constituted the population studied, during the period May-November 2018. A teacher- made pre-test of basic technical vocabulary knowledge was administered. ESP vocabulary was taught to complement General English structures and grammar.  At the end of the semester, a post-test was given to the students to determine the influence of the technical vocabulary in their proficiency.  Data analysis showed that the student-centered approach using basic technical vocabulary in general English learning was effective.  Furthermore, the results showed that when focusing to student’s needs, degree program students are more motivated to learn and read more academic literature related to their careers.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (18) ◽  
pp. 118-127
Author(s):  
Tetiana Fursenko ◽  
Bohdana Bystrova ◽  
Yurii Druz

The research aims to study and experimentally verify the effectiveness of the use of the Quizlet computer-based flashcard program for teaching future air traffic controllers (ATCs) profession-related vocabulary. In this research, we applied a mixed-method research design. The sample of the experiment participants was 57 first-year students majoring in “Aviation transport”. To evaluate the efficiency of Quizlet incorporation into aviation English learning, we used tests, speaking activities, observations, and questionnaires (the former two to assess passive and active vocabulary knowledge and the latter to evaluate the students` engagement and motivation). The empirical data proved Quizlet to be an effective vocabulary learning tool that positively influences students` proficiency in speaking skills and interest in learning aviation English. Based on the obtained findings, we claim vocabulary acquisition to be the basis for foreign language learners` general language proficiency contributing to the development of voice communication skills. An important conclusion is made on the need to include in aviation English courses the intentional vocabulary learning component implying explicit vocabulary teaching, which then should be complemented with speaking practice and incidental vocabulary acquisition techniques. The research findings can be implied in aviation English and foreign language teaching presenting an experimental verification of computer-based flashcard program efficiency in the language learning process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1585
Author(s):  
Ahmad Reza Lotfi ◽  
Sayed Mir Hossein Hosseini Pozveh

Synchronous learning and asynchronous learning are the two main approaches to teaching available in distance education. The main objective of the study was to determine which approach to vocabulary learning, would facilitate vocabulary learning more for Iranian EFL learners. From among the targeted population of 82 intermediate students of an English institute in Isfahan, Iran, students between the ages of 12 to 18, a sample of 60 students were chosen based on their score on a quick placement test (QPT). The selected participants undertook a vocabulary pre-test and were divided into two groups of 30 who in terms of language proficiency and vocabulary knowledge were homogenized. Both synchronous and asynchronous groups were taught “Advanced Vocabulary and Idiom”, by the same teacher at one particular institute. In the period of 10 sessions of a semester, the synchronous groups were taught the vocabulary items in class synchronously and the asynchronous group was taught via email. After the post-test, the results with the t-test observed, indicated a significance difference between synchronous and asynchronous groups, p-value of .003, gender with the p-value of 0.027 and pre-test and post-test with the p-value of 0.047, but no significance was observed for age with the p-value of 0.127. The post-test results indicated that the synchronous group considerably outperformed the asynchronous group in the vocabulary knowledge they attained.


ReCALL ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Christoph A. Hafner

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Banan Hassan Alhajaji ◽  
Jalila Saleh Algmadi ◽  
Amal Abdelsattar Metwally

Vocabulary is an essential element of language learning. Wide ranges of vocabulary along with grammatical competence guarantee learners to communicate in the language effectively. This study proposes an edutainment method for learning vocabulary by simply combining education and entertainment. This study aims to gain insights about learners’ opinions and perspectives about the use of a technique developed by the researchers as well as how participants feel about their learning. The study investigates the effect of employing Games, Mind-mapping and Twitter Hashtags as the GMT technique, on female Saudi university students’ achievement in English vocabulary. The study suggests that this technique which consists of interactive games, cognitive mind-mapping and the exploitation of technology in the form of twitter hashtags, all employed together, constitute a unified framework for activating students’ vocabulary learning. The sample in the study consisted of 150 students enrolled in the vocabulary building course during the second semester of the academic year 2018/2019. The participants were asked to respond to the questionnaire and they also took variant assessment tests, then their scores were compared to the results of other students who were not taught vocabulary using the technique in question. The findings ascertain the improvement and significant in the experimental group. In addition, the results reveal that the learners had mostly positive opinions on implementing the GMT technique which facilitated their language learning experience. The researchers conclude that the GMT technique can be an effective tool to promote students’ active engagement, motivation, and interaction in vocabulary learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
Mutia Khaira

Arabic mufradat is an element of various language elements, where the richness of vocabulary is part of the indicator of language proficiency. In reality, vocabulary learning often encounters obstacles, therefore choosing the right media is part of an effort to overcome the existing difficulties. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of the puzzle in improving Arabic vocabulary skills. This study was conducted with a quasi-experimental approach where data were obtained through pre-test and post-test. Based on the results, the use of puzzle games as learning media was effective to improve mufradat skills.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Nakata ◽  

Four papers by Clint Denison and Imogen Custance, Louis Lafleur, James Rogers, and Andrew Obermeier will be presented at the Eighth Annual JALT Vocabulary SIG Symposium in Tokyo, Japan, on September 20, 2020. The topics covered in the four papers are vocabulary learning using online student-created vocabulary lists, development of a flashcard program that manipulates the review schedule and question format, creation of a list of multi-word units based on corpora, and examination of the acquisition of declarative and tacit vocabulary knowledge from deliberate computer-assisted learning. This commentary briefly summarizes each study and offers suggestions for future research. All of the four studies exhibit how computer technology can be used to facilitate vocabulary research, teaching, and learning.


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