ERIC Number: EJ1083068
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1916-4742
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
FL Vocabulary Learning of Undergraduate English Majors in Western China: Perspective, Strategy Use and Vocabulary Size
Zhang, Baicheng
English Language Teaching, v2 n3 p178-185 Sep 2009
The present study, by use of questionnaire and vocabulary tests, has investigated the foreign language vocabulary learning situation of 481 undergraduates in terms of their perspective of vocabulary learning, strategy use and vocabulary size. Based on the questionnaire investigation and vocabulary level tests, the characteristics of the subjects' foreign language vocabulary learning have been outlined: (1) Objects have the belief that vocabulary should be learned by using them; the most frequently used strategies include dictionary use, guessing the meaning and note-taking; objects average out to a small vocabulary size. (2) Significant differences exist in the use of some strategies between different graders and different majors. (3) Four strategies (cognitive & meta-cognitive) significantly correlate with vocabulary size. In order to facilitate learners' foreign language vocabulary development, four tentative solutions have been offered to solve the relevant problems: (1) Raising learners' awareness of FL vocabulary development and try to enlarge their vocabulary size; (2) Developing learners' productive vocabulary by using the target words in authentic contexts; (3) Fostering learners' awareness of using appropriate vocabulary learning strategies; (4) Broadening learners' vocabulary learning approaches by utilizing both the intentional (direct) learning methods and the incidental (indirect) ones. The research results may probably offer empirical reference for the foreign language vocabulary teaching and learning in China.
Descriptors: Vocabulary Development, Undergraduate Students, Learning Strategies, Metacognition, Majors (Students), Metalinguistics, Dictionaries, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Questionnaires, Language Tests, Notetaking, Incidental Learning, Instructional Improvement, Teaching Methods, Foreign Countries, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, English (Second Language), Correlation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A