No description available.

Video recordings can be subtitled in three ways: with first language (L1) subtitles, with second language (L2) subtitles, or with first language plus second language (bilingual or L1+L2) subtitles. The first two types of subtitles are widely discussed in previous research with regard to how they affect language learning. However, the effects of bilingual subtitles have not been widely studied. This study aims to examine the pedagogical effects of bilingual subtitles on vocabulary acquisition in the L2 classroom. A seven-week quasi-experimental study was conducted with four English-major classes in year-3 in a Chinese university: three experimental groups and one control group. Students in the three experimental classes were exposed to three documentary films on very similar topics with the three different types of subtitles in turn. They then took a vocabulary test relating to the lexical items encountered in the films. At the end of the experiment, they were given a questionnaire to explore their opinions towards differential subtitles in relation to their language learning. The results demonstrated a significant advantage of bilingual subtitling in videos for students’ receptive vocabulary knowledge and recall at post-test and this advantage was maintained at delayed post-test. The bilingual subtitles probably are more effective than monolingual subtitles with regard to students’ vocabulary acquisition in short-term and long-term. Also, bilingual subtitles were preferred by a majority of students in respect of video understanding and vocabulary learning. L2 subtitles were favoured by more students for improving their listening comprehension. Pedagogical implications for the use of differential subtitles in the L2 classroom are discussed.

The process of second language vocabulary acquisition (L2VA) is investigated by looking at the learning, teaching, learner and environmental factors that affect the ways that adult Vietnamese learners of English acquire, store and use words. Data were collected by examination of informants' diaries, recorded classes, free conversations, interview-questionnaires and regular interviews during the English program. The data show that the process of building up the mental lexicon is slow, long and complicated. For adult learners coming from different English and job backgrounds, full time classroom learning is the biggest and most important source of L2 word input. It is also in this environment that the word storage and recall mechanisms are most facilitated. The L2VA process varies according to individual learners at different levels, with different learning goals, motivations, determination, areas of interest and word learning methods. It is hoped that the findings of the study help increase Vietnamese teachers' awareness of how to teach English vocabulary effectively and how to help learners work out individually suitable word learning methods.

There are numerous methods of teaching English as a second language to pupils in the lower grades of elementary school. Previous research indicates that some teaching methods are successful among children in pre-school and older pupils, but few studies have investigated their effects on 6-8-year-old pupils. The aim of this study is to compare two teaching methods, TPRS and Reading Aloud, to decide which one is more effective in second language vocabulary learning. Previous research in the field is presented and compared to the results of this study. This case study was conducted in an elementary school in Sweden, with 12 pupils in their first year of compulsory school and 13 pupils in their second year of compulsory school. The results suggest that TPRS as a teaching method is more effective than reading aloud when it comes to second language vocabulary learning. Further research suggestions are also presented in this essay.

Recent research has underscored the important role of second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition in the reading process. The present study examined how accurately eighteen learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) were able to identify unknown words within a reading passage. It is assumed that "noticing" unfamiliar words in a text plays an important role in being able to extract meaning from context, which may ultimately result in word learning; thus, whether or not learners are able to recognize unknown words as unknown is a key step in vocabulary learning. The design of this study was based on previous research (Laufer and Yano, 2001) on the connection between first language background and self-assessment of L2 word knowledge. The first three steps of the Lafuer and Yano study were used in this study. In the first step, ESL learners self-assessed their ability to identify selected words in a text. After this, L2 learners explained or translated the meanings of the words. Finally, the two sets of data were analyzed to measure correlations. The findings of the study showed that teachers, as well as learners, should not underestimate the importance of vocabulary. Instead, they should provide more explicit vocabulary instruction and practice. In addition, L2 learners need to learn to identify words that are unknown. The act of "noticing" unknown words and identifying them as such is the initial step towards building vocabulary through reading. Lastly, L2 learners should not rely solely on context clues for the "guessing" strategy when they have a limited level of vocabulary because they may develop mistaken word knowledge, which would impact reading comprehension. Instead, learners should develop a wide range of strategies to comprehend academic reading.

No description available.

Second language (L2) vocabulary learning is at the core of language learning and use. Studies have shown that native speakers and L2 learners perceive lexical errors as the biggest obstacle in effective communication (Gass & Selinker, 2008). As a result, the learning and teaching of vocabulary must be one of the focal points of L2 learning. This study quantitatively investigates the effectiveness of two vocabulary learning strategies, the keyword method and the visual support method. Using these two strategies, L2 learners can store the word's meaning both visually and linguistically by creating a "dual coding" (Paivio & Desrochers, 1981) of the word. The keyword method is a strategy that utilizes the association of a first language word (a keyword) with the unknown L2 word through the use of a mental image whereas the visual support method is a strategy that utilizes a visual image. In four L2 intact classes over a 6-day treatment period, participants learned 24 Spanish concrete nouns using both the keyword and visual support methods in one of two presentation orders. Using a pre-test, post-test, and delayed post-test design, results indicated that the use of an image, whether mental or visual, increased L2 learners' knowledge of form, meaning, and use of L2 vocabulary. Qualitative analyses of vocabulary notebooks/journals and surveys revealed that participants' preferences for and experiences with each learning method were influenced by individual likes and dislikes of each treatment. Since vocabulary acquisition is such a complex and multi-faceted process (Nation, 2001), educators have the responsibility to implement and encourage the use of various L2 vocabulary teaching and learning strategies. This research thus aims to reveal how an image can be worth a thousand words in the L2 classroom. / Spanish

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Though Biblical Hebrew (=BH) is no longer a spoken language, students continue to learn it for the purpose of reading, or at least interacting at a deeper level, with the text of the Hebrew Bible. This suggests that BH shares with any modern language learning course the goal of learning to read. One important part of learning to read is the acquisition of an adequate number of vocabulary items. The purpose of this study is to determine which insights from Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition (=SLVA) research and related fields hold the most promise for a new — and possibly more effective — approach to learning BH vocabulary, to evaluate currently existing BH instructional materials in light of these insights, to develop a new approach based on these insights, and to test aspects of the new approach empirically. Researchers in SLVA have uncovered a number of helpful insights concerning how vocabulary and vocabulary learning should be defined as well as concerning how vocabulary is best learned. On the other hand, BH instructional materials reflect little to no influence from these insights. These materials have continued to define vocabulary narrowly as individual words and continued to conceive of vocabulary learning primarily as pairing form and meaning in contrast to the much more sophisticated definitions found in the SLVA literature. For example, SLVA researchers consider items beyond the word level, such as idioms, to be vocabulary (Moon 1997; Lewis 1993, 1997). BH instructional materials have also failed to include a significant number of beneficial Vocabulary Learning Strategies (=VLSs), while including some VLSs that are either intrinsically problematic or problematic in the ways they are employed. For example, the strategy of learning semantically related items together is common in BH instructional materials, though it has been shown to be problematic in a considerable number of experimental studies (e.g. Nation 2000; Finkbeiner & Nicol 2003; Papathanasiou 2009). Since SLVA research has yet to influence BH instructional materials, a new approach to BH vocabulary learning is warranted. This new approach is based on sound theory concerning what vocabulary is and what it means to learn it, while offering learners as many helpful strategies for learning lexical items as possible. To justify this new approach, a set of experimental studies was run including one longitudinal case study and three larger-scale experiments. This testing was partial in nature since it was only possible to test one variable at a time. The testing revealed a number of important areas for future research into BH vocabulary learning. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel Bybelse Hebreeus (=BH) nie meer gepraat word nie, hou studente aan om dit aan te leer vir die doel om te lees, of ten minste om op ‘n dieper vlak met die oorspronklike teks van die Hebreeuse Bybel om te gaan. Dit impliseer dat die aanleer van BH net soos met die aanleer van moderne tale, ten doel het om die taal te kan lees. Een belangrike aspek van om te leer lees, is om die woordeskat aan te leer wat vir hierdie doel nodig is. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel watter insigte, verkry uit Tweede Taal Woordeskat-Aanleer (=TTWA) navorsing en ander verwante studievelde, die meeste belofte inhou vir ‘n nuwe – en moontlik meer effektiewe – benadering tot die leer van BH woordeskat; om huidige BH leermateriaal te evalueer, in lig van hierdie insigte; om ‘n nuwe benadering te ontwikkel gebaseer op hierdie insigte; en om aspekte van die nuwe benadering empiries toets. Navorsers in TTWA het al heelwat insig verkry in hoe woordeskat en die aanleer van woordeskat gedefineer behoort te word, sowel as aangaande die mees effektiewe maniere waarop woordeskat aangeleer kan word. Dit lyk egter of beskikbare BH leermanier niks of baie min by hierdie insigte baatgevind het. Hierdie materiaal handhaaf tipies ‘n baie nou definisie van wat woordeskat is, te wete, individuele woorde. Dit beskou dus die aanleer van woordeskat as die aanleer van hoofsaaklik woordpare met verskillende vorme en betekenisse, in plaas daarvan om die meer gesofistikeerde definisies te gebruik wat in TTWA literatuur gevind word. TTWA navorsers beskou, byvoorbeelde idiome, wat uit meer as een woord kan bestaan, ook as woordskat-eenhede (Moon 1997; Lewis 1993, 1997). BH leermateriaal gebruik selde van die groot getal beskikbare nuttige Woordeskat Leer- Strategieë (=WLS). Daar word eerder dikwels strategieë gebruik wat volgens TTWA navorsing nie baie effektief is nie.’n Goeie voorbeeld in hierdie verband is die strategie om semanties-verwante items saam te leer. Empiriese navorsing het aangetoon dat hierdie strategie sonder twyfel problematies kan wees (bv. Nation 2000; Finkbeiner & Nicol 2003; Papathanasiou 2009). Aangesien TTWA feitelik nog geen beduidende invloed op BH leermateriaal gehad het, is ‘n nuwe benadering tot die aanleer van BH woordeskat waarin TTWA insigte verreken word, geregverdig. Hierdie nuwe benadering is gebaseer op ‘n deeglik begrondige teoriese model aangaande wat woordeskat is, en wat dit beteken om dit te leer. Verder kan geput word uit die skat van nuttige strategieë wat al in TTWS geïdentifiseer is om sodoende aan BH leerder strategieë te bied wat hulleself al bewys het. Om die nuwe benadering empiries te begrond, is ‘n reeks eksperimentele studies geloods. Nie alle aspekte van die nuwe model kon sistematies getoets word nie. Die grondslag vir verdere navorsing is egter gelê.

Because most–if not all–intensive English programs (IEP) assign students to specific levels based on a placement test that does not involve any form of explicit vocabulary testing, some degree of variation in lexical knowledge of students within an individual class should not be surprising. However, very little research has ever quantified this variation. The current study fills the gap in this important area of TESOL research by investigating vocabulary variation among intermediate-level students at one IEP. Participants (N=79) were split into two main proficiency groups, high intermediate (N=28) and low intermediate (N=51). The 2K, 3K, and 5K levels from the Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) were used as a vocabulary measure. In this study, VLT scores were analyzed by proficiency level and by students' original individual classes (N=7). The results revealed considerable vocabulary variation. In some instances, vocabulary size varied by 900 word families per student. First language influence was also investigated by comparing the largest two language groups in the sample, Arabic (N= 28) and Spanish (N=12). Spanish-speaking students significantly outperformed the Arabic speaking students in all vocabulary measures (except for the 2K level). The study, therefore, raises questions about the approaches used in teaching a class that has both Spanish and Arabic speakers. Implications and suggestions for further studies are discussed.

Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (PCIC) es la versión española del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las lenguas (MCER). La meta con el estudio es investigar como son los niveles A1-C2 del PCIC desde una vista de la frecuencia de las palabras. Seleccionamos de distintos campos semánticos 318 palabras de 53 subgrupos y de los seis niveles A1-C2, para tener una amplia y fiable selección de datos. A continuación, para encontrar la frecuencia de las palabras se usa CORPES XXI, la versión 0.93 de 2021. En los resultados existe una grande superposición y desviación, y no hay límites claros que difieren los niveles A1-C2 entre sí. A pesar de esto, se puede concluir en general que una palabra del nivel A1 tiene una frecuencia más alta que una palabra de A2, que en su turno tiene más alta frecuencia que la de B1, y así sucesivamente, un descenso de frecuencia. Hemos visto un patrón general, de las medidas de tendencia central, que sirve como idea básica para calcular y concluir lo siguiente sobre las 318 palabras de este estudio: 74% de las palabras A1-A2 caben dentro de las 3 mil más frecuentes palabras. 81% de las palabras B1-B2 caben dentro de las 10 mil más frecuentes palabras, mientras 75% de las palabras C1-C2 caben dentro de las 17 mil más frecuentes palabras. En total, más de 90% de todas las palabras en el estudio caben dentro de las 20 mil palabras más frecuentes. Esta cantidad, 20 mil, sería a su vez una aproximación al vocabulario que pertenece al aprendiente de segunda lengua. / Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (PCIC) is the Spanish version of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR). The purpose of this study is to observe the A1-C2 levels of PCIC regarding the frequency of words. In PCIC, 318 words were selected from different semantic fields in 53 subgroups and the six levels A1-C2 to give a wide and reliable selection of data. Then, to find the frequency of the words, they were compared with CORPES XXI, version 0.93 from 2021.  The results show that there are no clear boundaries that separate the different levels A1-C2 from each other, they overlap, and there are large deviations and variations. Nevertheless, one can generally conclude that a word at A1 level has a higher frequency than a word in A2, which in turn has a higher frequency than in B1, and so on, a decrease in frequency. Using measures of central tendency, it was possible to distinguish a general pattern and calculate the following about the 318 words in this study: 74% of the A1-A2 words fit within the 3,000 most frequent words. 81% of the B1-B2 words fit within the 10,000 most frequent words, while 75% of the C1-C2 words fit within the 17,000 most frequent words. In total, over 90% of all words in the study fit within the 20,000 most frequent words. This number, 20,000, is possibly something close to the vocabulary that could be attributed to the second language learner.