Strategic Vocabulary Learning in Vocabulary List Learning: Insights from EFL Learners in Thailand

Benjamin Panmei

Abstract


Considering the number of class hours and the variety of learning materials provided in an EAP course at a university, the frequently estimated number of words that EFL students must master to function in English appears excessive. Recently, though, vocabulary list learning has evolved as an alternate approach to addressing such concerns. The current research investigated the strategic vocabulary learning that EFL students developed during word list learning. A list of 500 A1-A2 academic words divided into 10 sets was compiled and incorporated into a 10-week EAP English vocabulary course. The vocabulary acquisition of students was evaluated using weekly vocabulary tests (consisting of the words learned each week) and a final vocabulary exam (involving all the words in the 10 vocabulary sets). At the completion of the learning, quantitative and qualitative surveys were administered. The results of a mixed-method analysis revealed 1) memory, selective attention, learning words through use, and dictionaries as the most frequently used strategies; 2) shared learning strategies between male and female students, except for taking notes and visual repetition strategies; and 3) the efficacy of the infrequently used strategies in EFL students' vocabulary acquisition. The findings of the study call for the incorporation of explicit VLS instructions and training into students' word list learning, as well as the evaluation of how long words acquired by students will remain in their memories; continuous monitoring and evaluation; and teachers' continuous technical and emotional support during word list learning.

 

Keywords: strategic vocabulary learning, word list, academic word, vocabulary acquisition, Thai higher education


Full Text:

PDF

References


Ayutthaya, J. A. N., Kunthonjinda, K., Somwang, K., & Laosrirattanachai, P. (2022). Making Beverage Service Word List for English for Specific Purposes Classroom. rEFLections, 29(2), 325-343.

Bakla, A., & Cekiç, A. (2017). Using an online vocabulary memorization tool versus traditional vocabulary exercises. Ana Dili Eğitimi Dergisi, 5(4), 948-966.

Barrow, J., Nakashimi, Y., & Ishino, H. (1999). Assessing Japanese college students’vocabulary knowledge with a self-checking familiarity survey. System, 27(-), 223–247.

Bernard, H. R. (2017). Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Rowman & Littlefield.

Boonkongsaen, N. (2013). English vocabulary learning strategies employed by Thai tertiary-level students (Doctoral dissertation, School of Foreign Languages Institute of Social Technology Suranaree University of Technology).

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(-), 77–101.

Braun, V., Clarke, V., and Terry, G. (2015). Thematic analysis. In P. Rohleder and A. Lyons (Eds.), Qualitative research in clinical and health psychology (pp. 95–113). Palgrave MacMillan.

Catalan, R. M. J. (2003). Sex differences in L2 vocabulary learning strategies. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 54-77.

Chou, M. H. (2022). Validating the Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by English as a Foreign Language University Students in Taiwan. RELC Journal, 00336882221074105.

Chumworatayee, T., & Pitakpong, T. (2017). The Relationships between the Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies and Their Usefulness as Perceived by English Major Students in a Thai University. LEARN journal: Language education and acquisition research network, 10(2), 155-167.

Dang, TNY and Webb, S (2016) Making an essential word list for beginners. In: Nation, ISP, (ed.) Making and Using Word Lists for Language Learning and Testing (pp. 153-167). John Benjamins.

Duong, T. M. (2022). Insights into ESP Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by Vietnamese Tertiary Students. Journal of Language and Education, 8(1), 40-51.

Fan, N. (2020). Strategy use in second language vocabulary learning and its relationships with the breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge: a structural equation modeling study. Frontiers in psychology, 11 (-), 752.

Fan, M. Y. (2003). Frequency of use, perceived usefulness, and actual usefulness of second language vocabulary strategies: A study of Hong Kong learners. The Modern Language Journal, 87(2), 222-241.

Folse, K. S., & Youngblood, A. (2017). Survey of corpus-based vocabulary lists for TESOL classes. MexTESOL Journal, 41(1), 1-15.

Gardner, D., & Davies, M. (2014). A new academic vocabulary list. Applied linguistics, 35(3), 305-327.

Ghalebi, R., Sadighi, F., & Bagheri, M. S. (2021). A study of vocabulary learning strategies among high and low Iranian English vocabulary learners. Cogent education, 8(1), 1834933.

Gu, P. Y. (2018). Validation of an online questionnaire of vocabulary learning strategies for ESL learners. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 8(2), 325-350.

Gu, Y. (2012). Vocabulary learning strategies. The encyclopedia of applied linguistics, 1-7.

Gu, Y. (2010). Learning strategies for vocabulary development. Reflections on English Language Teaching, 9(2), 105-118.

Gu, Y. (2003). Vocabulary learning in a second language: Person, task, context and strategies. TESL-EJ, 7(2). Retrieved from http://www.tesl-ej.org/word press/issues/volume7/ej26/ej26a4/

Gu, Y., & Hu, G. W. (2003). Cihui xuexi celue, cihuiliang, yu yingyu chengji de bianhua. In Q. F. Wen & L. F. Wang (Eds.), Yingyu xuexi celue shizheng yanjiu (pp. 388-409). Xi’an: Shaanxi Normal University Press.

Gu, Y. (2002). Gender, academic major, and vocabulary learning strategies of Chinese EFL learners. RELC journal, 33(1), 35-54.

Gu, Y., & Johnson, R. K. (1996). Vocabulary learning strategies and language learning outcomes. Language learning, 46(4), 643-679.

Hadavi, M., & Hashemi, Z. (2014). Comparative Analysis of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Learning English as a Foreign Language among Freshmen and Senior Medical Sciences Students Across Different Fields of Study. Malaysian Journal of ELT Research, 10(2), 19-33.

Horst, M., Cobb T., & Meara, P. (1998). Beyond A Clockwork Orange: Acquiring second language vocabulary through reading. Reading in a Foreign Language, 11(2), 207–223.

Khoii, R., & Sharififar, S. (2013). Memorization versus semantic mapping in L2 vocabulary acquisition. ELT journal, 67(2), 199-209.

Kobayashi, K., & Little, A. (2020). Gender Differences in the Effects of Explicit Vocabulary Learning Strategies Training. Journal of Second Language Teaching & Research, 8(1), 23-51.

Kojic‐Sabo, I., & Lightbown, P. M. (1999). Students' approaches to vocabulary learning and their relationship to success. The Modern Language Journal, 83(2), 176-192.

Laosrirattanachai, P., & Laosrirattanachai, P. (2021). Applying lexical profiling to construct technical word lists for Thai tourist guides. PASAA: A Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, 62(1), 61-91.

Laufer, B. (2001). Quantitative evaluation of vocabulary: How it can be done and what it is good for. In Elder, C., Hill, K., Brown, A., Iwashita, N., Grove, L., Lumley, T., & McNamara, T. (Eds.), Experimenting with uncertainty. Cambridge University Press.

Lee, S. (2020). Examining the Roles of Aptitude, Motivation, Strategy Use, Language Processing Experience, and Gender in the Development of the Breadth and Depth of EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Knowledge. SAGE Open, 10(4), 2158244020977883.

Lessard-Clouston, M. (2013). Word Lists for vocabulary learning and teaching. CATESOL Journal, 24(1), 287-304.

Mehrpour, S. (2008). A comparison of the effects of two vocabulary teaching techniques. The Asian EFL Journal, 10(2), 192-208.

Milton, J., & Al-Masrai, A. (2012). The vocabulary knowledge of university students in Saudi Arabia. Perspectives (TESOL Arabia), 19 (3), 13-19.

Mizumoto, A., & Takeuchi, O. (2009). Examining the effectiveness of explicit instruction of vocabulary learning strategies with Japanese EFL university students. Language Teaching Research, 13(4), 425-449.

Moir, J., & Nation, I. S. P. (2002). Learners' use of strategies for effective vocabulary learning. Prospect, 17(1), 15-35.

Mokhtar, A. A., Rawian, R. M., Yahaya, M. F., Abdullah, A., & Mohamed, A. R. (2017). Vocabulary learning strategies of adult ESL learners. The English Teacher, 12(-), 133-145.

Nation, I. (2006). How large a vocabulary is needed for reading and listening?. Canadian modern language review, 63(1), 59-82.

Ng, C. W. (2018). Gender difference in preferences for second language vocabulary learning strategies: A pilot study. Bulletin of Advanced English Studies, 1(2), 160-171.

Nirattisai, S. (2014). Vocabulary size and vocabulary learning strategies of Thai university students (Doctoral dissertation, Prince of Songkla University).

Nurmukhamedov, U., & Webb, S. (2019). Lexical coverage and profiling. Language Teaching, 52(2), 188-200.

Nurweni, A., & Read, J. (1999). The English vocabulary knowledge of Indonesian university students. English for Specific Purposes, 18(2), 161-175.

Okyar, H. (2021). Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Turkish EFL Learners: A Focus on Gender. Journal of English Teaching, 7(1), 43-54.

Oxford, R. L. (2017). Teaching and researching language learning strategies: Self-regulation in context (2nd ed.). Abingdon, England: Routledge.

Oxford English Dictionary. (2022, June 17). Updates to the OED. OED. https://public.oed.com/updates/

Oxford, R., & Crookall, D. (1990). Vocabulary learning: A critical analysis of techniques. TESL Canada journal, 7(2), 9-30.

Panduangkaew, R. (2018). An Analysis of Vocabulary Learning Strategies Employed by Thai EFL Undergraduates: Dictionary Use. REFLections, 25(1), 116-125.

Park, J. E. (2001). Korean EFL learners’ vocabulary learning strategies. English Teaching, 56(4), 3-30.

Qian, D. D., & Lin, L. H. (2019). The relationship between vocabulary knowledge and language proficiency. In S. Webb. (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Vocabulary Studies (pp. 66-80). Routledge.

Rofiah, N. L., & Waluyo, B. (2020). Using Socrative for vocabulary tests: Thai EFL learner acceptance and perceived risk of cheating. Journal of Asia TEFL, 17(3), 966-982.

Schmitt, N., Cobb, T., Horst, M., & Schmitt, D. (2017). How much vocabulary is needed to use English? Replication of van Zeeland & Schmitt (2012), Nation (2006) and Cobb (2007). Language Teaching, 50(2), 212-226.

Schmitt, N. (2008). Review article: Instructed second language vocabulary learning. Language Teaching Research, 12(3), 329-363.

Schmitt, N. (2007). Current Perspectives on Vocabulary Teaching and Learning. In: Cummins, J., Davison, C. (Eds), International Handbook of English Language Teaching (pp. 745-759). Springer.

Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In Schmitt, N., & McCarthy, M. (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition, and pedagogy. Cambridge University Press.

Stoffer, I. (1995). University foreign language students' choice of vocabulary learning strategies as related to individual difference variables. The University of Alabama.

Sunderland, J. 2000. Issues of language and gender in second and foreign language education. Language Teaching, 33(-), 203-223.

Teng, F. (2015). Assessing the Relationship between Vocabulary Learning Strategy Use and Vocabulary Knowledge. PASAA: Journal of Language Teaching and Learning in Thailand, 4(-), 39-65.

Thiendathong, P., & Sukying, A. (2021). Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by Thai High School Students in Science, Language, and English Programs. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume, 12(2), 306-317.

Tran, H. M., & Waluyo, B. (2021). Receptive Knowledge of Nouns and Collocations and the Impact on English Skill Performances. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 21(1), 124-147.

Van Zeeland, H., & Schmitt, N. (2013). Lexical coverage in L1 and L2 listening comprehension: The same or different from reading comprehension?. Applied linguistics, 34(4), 457-479.

Waluyo, B., & Bucol, J. L. (2021). The impact of gamified vocabulary learning using Quizlet on low-proficiency students. Computer Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal, 22(1), 164-185.

Waluyo, B., & Bakoko, R. (2021a). Vocabulary list learning supported by gamification: Classroom action research using quizlet. Journal of Asia TEFL, 18(1), 289-299.

Waluyo, B., & Bakoko, R. (2021b). Academic Vocabulary Used by High School Students in Essays and Its Relation to English Proficiency. 3L: Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 27(4), 157-172.

Waluyo, B. (2020). Learning Outcomes of a General English Course Implementing Multiple E-learning Technologies and Active Learning Concepts. Journal of Asia TEFL, 17(1), 160-181.

Waluyo, B. (2018). Vocabulary acquisition through self-regulated learning on speaking and writing development. International Journal of Language Teaching and Education, 2(3), 286-302.

Webb, S. (2021). Research investigating lexical coverage and lexical profiling: what we know, what we don’t know, and what needs to be examined. Reading in a Foreign Language, 33(2), 287-302.

West, M. (1953). A general service list of English words. Longman, Green, and Company.

Xue, G., & Nation, I. S. P. (1984). A university word list. Language Learning and Communication, 3(-), 215-229.

Yamamoto, Y. (2014). Multidimensional vocabulary acquisition through deliberate vocabulary list learning. System, 42(-), 232-243.

Zhang, X., & Lu, X. (2015). The relationship between vocabulary learning strategies and breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge. The Modern Language Journal, 99(4), 740-753.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/3L-2023-2901-07

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


 

 

 

eISSN : 2550-2247

ISSN : 0128-5157