scholarly journals The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge in Speaking Development of Saudi EFL Learners

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Raja Muhammad Ishtiaq Khan ◽  
Noor Raha Mohd Radzuan ◽  
Muhammad Shahbaz ◽  
Ainol Haryati Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Preparatory Year ◽  
Major Factors

Speaking in a foreign language is considered to be a challenging aspect of language learning that demands competence and mastery in learning any foreign language. Vocabulary learning verifies to play an important role in oral communication. However, literature lacks the studies where both English as a foreign language (EFL) students and teachers’ views are obtained to provide analyses of the situations in which learners are not showing desired results in speaking. The current study explores the problems of lack of vocabulary that Saudi EFL students face with special focus on their speaking proficiency. It aims to seek EFL teachers’ opinions on the extent to which lack of vocabulary has influence on EFL students’ performance in listening, and conversation classes, and in expressing their ideas and feelings, and especially in speaking skill. A questionnaire was used for the responses from the students and an interview for the teachers to reveal their perceptions about the vocabulary hindrance in speaking skills. 20 EFL instructors and teachers of Preparatory Year Program (PYP) section of a public university and 110 EFL students participated in this study. The analysis of the data showed that both teachers and learners indicated that lack of vocabulary is one of the major factors in students’ inability to speaking English. In the current study, among many other suggestions it is proposed that the inclusion of mobile assisted language learning could be useful way of developing vocabulary for spoken proficiency of Saudi EFL learners.

scholarly journals CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHING SPEAKING: VOICES OF INDONESIAN EFL LEARNERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Arif Nugroho ◽  
Novrika Nartiningrum
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
The Ideal

<p>Among the four English skills, oral communication becomes crucial for undergraduate students to be more competitive in the work-places. In a foreign language teaching, designing appropriate classroom activities is a prerequisite for the success of a language learning. Therefore, this study sheds some light on 92 EFL learners’ perceptions and insights of classroom activities for teaching speaking. Drawing on the data obtained from questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD), the findings illustrated that the students held moderately positive perceptions toward the speaking activities in their classroom. In addition, the results of FGD revealed some insights from the students with regard to the ideal classroom activities for teaching speaking. The findings of this study provide insights for EFL teachers in designing appropriate classroom activities to achieve the success of teaching speaking.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>teaching speaking, classroom activities, students’ perception</p>

scholarly journals An Investigation into the Benefits of the Intercultural Approach to EFL Learning and Teaching: A Case Study of Taif University, KSA

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir H. Abdalla
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Preparatory Year ◽  
Study Participants

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential benefits of using the intercultural approach to teaching English as a foreign language in the preparatory –year programme (male branch), Taif University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The intercultural approach is considered a viable means of foreign language education that seeks to address issues of culture in foreign language learning and teaching and how best to address them. Hence, this study intends to explore the attitudes of first year EFL Taif university students to the potential benefits of the intercultural approach to EFL. A sample of 200 EFL students participated in the study. Participants’ views on the topic of the study are collected via a questionnaire the researcher designed and administered to the participants. In addition, the views of 50 EFL instructors teaching in the preparatory programme were gathered by a questionnaire regarding the topic researched. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the collected data.

scholarly journals The Sources of Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety of Iranian English Language Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firooz Sadighi ◽  
Mehdi Dastpak
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Affective Factors

Foreign language learning anxiety is one of the affective factors which influence language learning negatively. It has several sources and different types. The present study aimed at investigating the sources of foreign language speaking anxiety of Iranian EFL learners. To do so, 154 EFL learners participated in the study. They were required to fill out a foreign language anxiety questionnaire which was developed based on the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986). The results of the study indicated that “fear of making mistakes”, “fear of negative evaluation”, and “lack of vocabulary knowledge” were the main factors which caused anxiety among students. Some strategies are recommended for the students to use in order to cope with the anxiety-provoking factors. 

scholarly journals Classroom enjoyment and anxiety among Saudi undergraduate EFL students: does gender matter?

2021 ◽  
pp. 9-34
Author(s):  
Elias Bensalem
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Recent Interest ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Relationship

The current study was motivated by recent interest in the effect of positive and negative emotions in the context of foreign language learning resulting from the rise of the positive psychology movement (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2016; MacIntyre & Mercer, 2014). It examines the construct of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and its relationship with foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) among a group of 487 English as a foreign language (EFL) students (340 females, 147 males) enrolled in public universities in Saudi Arabia. A measure of FLE based on Likert scale ratings of ten items (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2014), and a measure of FLCA based on eight items extracted from the FLCAS (Horwitz et al., 1986) were used. Male and female students had the same levels of FLE and FLCA. Correlation analysis showed that the relationship between students’ FLE and FLCA was significantly negative. Qualitative analysis of the participants’ learning experiences revealed the causes of FLCA and FLE among Saudi EFL learners.

scholarly journals Learners’ Beliefs and Communities Around Them: The Social Pressure to Learn Language

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401989884
Author(s):  
Munassir Alhamami
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Social Pressure ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Social ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Learning Language

This study used a mixed-methods design to investigate the effects of language learners’ subjective norm (SN) beliefs on learning English as a foreign language (EFL). To examine the perceived social pressure to learn EFL, two experiments were conducted in a Saudi university: a face-to-face language learning (FLL) experiment and an online language learning (OLL) experiment. A total of 674 EFL learners participated in the FLL treatment, and 286 EFL learners participated in the OLL treatment. In addition, several interviews were conducted with participants from both groups. The results show that understanding the SN beliefs of particular groups of people can help predict EFL students’ perceived social pressure to engage or not in learning a foreign language in online and face-to-face settings. Comparing the results of both groups shows that EFL learners hold more positive SN beliefs toward learning language in face-to-face settings than in online settings due to the participants’ SN beliefs. This finding highlights the importance of understanding the social pressure confronting language learners.

scholarly journals The Impact of Translation Equivalence on Tunisian EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Knowledge and Word-Learnability

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamel Boustani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
New Words ◽  
The Impact

One of the most pivotal challenges that learners may face, during foreign language learning, is building a reliable lexicon. Insufficient vocabulary knowledge may put serious obstacles in the foreign language learning process. Thus, students need to equip themselves with different strategies to cope with these difficulties. Translation equivalence (TE) is one of these strategies. Since the success or failure of any vocabulary learning strategy depends on two main factors: developing the learners&rsquo; vocabulary knowledge and the extent of difficulty or ease with which the learner acquires new words, this research aims at investigating the impact of this strategy on EFL learners&rsquo; vocabulary knowledge and word learnability. 258 Tunisian 9th graders participated in this project. Two vocabulary recognition tests, one using translation equivalence and the other using only-English strategies, were used to test the hypotheses. Different statistical tests and techniques were employed to analyze data. Findings showed that TE has a positive impact on learners&rsquo; vocabulary knowledge and revealed that students, at this level of proficiency, learn vocabulary through translation better than any other strategy using only English.

scholarly journals Learner Autonomy and its Existing Practices: A Comparison between EFL Students of Various Disciplines in the Context of Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol V (I) ◽  
pp. 596-608
Author(s):  
Ayesha Butt ◽  
Faisal Anis ◽  
Amna Yousaf
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Science Group ◽  
Efl Students

Learner autonomy refers to a state where a learner seeks the understanding of the concepts more independently, takes charge of his own learning and becomes more motivated and self-supportive towards the learning procedures. The present study explored the existing practices of EFL learners with reference to autonomy practices, in the context of Punjab, Pakistan. The autonomy of the learners was examined through their use of foreign language learning strategies. The sample of the study consisted of 104 university students from arts and science groups. The results indicated that the students of science group were using more autonomous learning strategies as compared to the arts group.

scholarly journals Fostering Learner Autonomy through Foreign Language Learning Strategies among Pakistani EFL Learners

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (II) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Ayesha Butt ◽  
Uzma Quraishi ◽  
Sameera Ayub Bhatti
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Efl Students

Learner autonomy refers to the practical situations and interventions of learning, where individual independence of a learner is given more attention (Smith, 2008). Learner autonomy (LA) can be promoted in foreign language classrooms by using foreign language learning strategies and it can pave the way for successful learning outcomes (Kim, 2013). Foreign language learning strategies (FLLS) are the behaviors, techniques and active engagement of learners (Ellis, 2008). The present study identified the foreign language learning strategies (FLLS), used by the Pakistani students at the tertiary level, where they were found to be unaware of the phenomena. Then a learner-training program based on FLLS was designed and implemented on the sample of 50 EFL students to foster autonomy. The research through an experiment of intervention found the effectiveness of the program with reference to LA development, the enhanced use of FLLS by students and the stimulation of their interest.

scholarly journals EFL learners’ experience of a MALL-based vocabulary learning tool

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-291
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alhadiah
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Learning Tool ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Positive Attitudes

Since vocabulary learning plays a crucial role in the journey of language learning, various programs and mobile applications have been developed to assist vocabulary learning. However, the effectiveness of MALL-based (mobile-assisted language learning) tools can be determined by examining the perception of users, who are learners in this case, because, as Beres (2011) emphasized, learners do not always perceive learning tool effectiveness in the same way as educators. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the perspectives of learners regarding the use of one of the programs that can be used for vocabulary learning — Quizlet. The perceptions of thirty-eight Saudi EFL (English as a Foreign Language) freshmen college students regarding the use of Quizlet for fourteen weeks were examined using questionnaires and interviews. The main findings of the study show that the students demonstrated positive attitudes towards the use of Quizlet in English vocabulary learning. They perceived it as a useful program that was easy to use, and they reported the intention to use it in the future. The present study highly recommends the use of MALL-based tools for vocabulary learning for their usefulness inside and outside the classroom.

scholarly journals The Impact of Translation Equivalence on Tunisian EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Knowledge and Word-Learnability

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamel Boustani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
New Words ◽  
The Impact

One of the most pivotal challenges that learners may face, during foreign language learning, is building a reliable lexicon. Insufficient vocabulary knowledge may put serious obstacles in the foreign language learning process. Thus, students need to equip themselves with different strategies to cope with these difficulties. Translation equivalence (TE) is one of these strategies. Since the success or failure of any vocabulary learning strategy depends on two main factors: developing the learners&rsquo; vocabulary knowledge and the extent of difficulty or ease with which the learner acquires new words, this research aims at investigating the impact of this strategy on EFL learners&rsquo; vocabulary knowledge and word learnability. 258 Tunisian 9th graders participated in this project. Two vocabulary recognition tests, one using translation equivalence and the other using only-English strategies, were used to test the hypotheses. Different statistical tests and techniques were employed to analyze data. Findings showed that TE has a positive impact on learners&rsquo; vocabulary knowledge and revealed that students, at this level of proficiency, learn vocabulary through translation better than any other strategy using only English.

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