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The Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Relation to Vocabulary Size of Students in Chinese Universities

Received: 16 December 2019    Accepted: 31 December 2019    Published: 8 January 2020
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Abstract

The study tends to explore vocabulary learning beliefs and strategies employed by students in Chinese universities. The correlations between beliefs/strategies and students’ vocabulary size are also addressed to show the impact of the different vocabulary learning strategies on students’ vocabulary size in China. A questionnaire and a vocabulary test were administered to 105 students from two universities. The questionnaire is adapted from Gu and Hu [1] and the vocabulary levels test is selected from Nation’s [2] vocabulary levels test (the university word list level) to evaluate students’ vocabulary size. With SPSS, statistical descriptions and pearson correlation are undertaken to process the data collected. The analyses of the data reveal that students in Chinese universities are interested in learning vocabulary. They report adopting a number of learning strategies in their vocabulary learning processes. They appear to use metacognitive strategies more often when they learn vocabulary, especially self-initiation. At cognitive level, they are both inclined to adopt dictionary use, guessing, note-taking and activation strategies very often, while encoding and rehearsal are less used. Their vocabulary size has a strong relation with their strategy use at cognitive level, a moderate relation at overall and metacognitive level and no relation with their learning beliefs. The study suggests that teachers should encourage students to hold a positive belief on vocabulary learning and to employ both metacognitive and cognitive strategies in learning vocabulary. Students should pay as much attention to cognitive strategies as to metacognitive strategies.

Published in Communication and Linguistics Studies (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12
Page(s) 80-85
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vocabulary Learning Beliefs, Vocabulary Learning Strategies, Vocabulary Size

References
[1] Gu, Yongqi, Hu, Guangwei. (2003). Empirical Study on English Learning Strategies. Shaan’xi Normal University Press.
[2] Nation, I. S. P. (2004). Teaching and learning vocabulary. Beijing: Foreige Language Teaching and Research Press.
[3] Wilkins, D. A. (1972). Linguistics in Language Teaching. London: Edward Arnold.
[4] Krashen, S. and Terrell, T. (1983). The natural approach: Language acquisition in the classroom. Oxford: Pergamon.
[5] Rivers, W. (1983). Connnunicating Naturally in a Second Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[6] Hermann, F. (2003). Differential Effects of Reading and Memorization of Paired Associates on Vocabulary Acquisition in Adult Learners of English as a Second Language. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, 7: A1.
[7] Cook, V. (2000). Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
[8] Oxford, R. (1990). Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. New York: Newbury House.
[9] Nation, P. (1990). Teaching and learning vocabulary. Boston: Heinle and Heinle.
[10] Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In N. Schmitt and M. McCarthy (eds.) Vocabulary: Description, Acquisition, and Strategies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[11] Lawson, M. and Hogben D. (1996). The vocabulary-learning strategies of foreign-language students. Language Learning, 46: 101-135.
[12] Wu, Xia, and Wang, Qiang. (1998). The Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Non-English Majors. Foreign Language Teaching and Research (1), 53-57.
[13] Liu, Jinkai. (1999). Research on Language Learning strategies-Word Guessing and Language Proficiency. Foreign Language Education (3), 31-35.
[14] Ellis, R. (1994). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[15] Nation, P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
[16] Carter, R. and M. McCarthy. (1988). Vocabulary and Language Teaching. New York: Longman Press.
[17] Gu, Yongqi and R. K. Johnson. (1996). Vocabulary learning strategies and language learning outcomes. Language Learning, 46: 643-679.
[18] Ahmed, M. O. (1989). Vocabulary learning techniques. In P Meara (Ed.), Beyond Words. London: CIL: 3-14.
[19] Fan. (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.
[20] Scholfield, P. (1982). Using the dictionary for comprehension. TESOL Quarterly, 16 (2): 185-194.
[21] Kudo, Y. (1999). L2 vocabulary learning strategies (nflrc network 14) [html document]. [online]. Available: http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/nflrc/NetWorks/NW14/.
[22] Oxford, R. and R. Scarcella. (1994). Second Language Vocabulary Learning Among Adults: State of the Act in Vocabulary Instruction. System, 22: 231-243.
[23] Coady, J and T. Huckin (eds.). (1997). Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[24] Wang, Wenyu. (1998). Beliefs, Strategies and English Vocabulary Retention [J]. Foreign Language Teaching and Research (1). 49-54.
[25] Kojic-Sabo, I. and P. M. Lightbown. (1999). Students’ approaches to vocabulary learning and their relationship to success. Modern Language Journal, 83: 176-192.
[26] Zhang, Ping. (2001). A Research on Learning Strategies of Postgraduates’ Basic and Professional Vocabulary. Foreign Language Teaching and Research. (6), 442-449.
[27] Allen, V. F. (1983). Techniques in teaching vocabulary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[28] Ghazal, L. (2007). Learning Vocabulary in EFL Contexts Through Vocabulary Learning Strategies. [online]. Available: http://novitasroyal.org/Ghazal.pdf
[29] Khoii, R. & Sharififar, S. (2013). Memorization versus semantic mapping in L2 vocabulary acquisition. ELT journal, 67 (2), 199-209.
[30] Atasheneh Nasser & Naeimi Maki. Vocabulary Learning through Using Mechanical Techniques Vocabulary Learning Strategy [J]. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2015, 5 (3): 541-548.
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    Tian Tian. (2020). The Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Relation to Vocabulary Size of Students in Chinese Universities. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 5(4), 80-85. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12

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    Tian Tian. The Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Relation to Vocabulary Size of Students in Chinese Universities. Commun. Linguist. Stud. 2020, 5(4), 80-85. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12

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    AMA Style

    Tian Tian. The Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Relation to Vocabulary Size of Students in Chinese Universities. Commun Linguist Stud. 2020;5(4):80-85. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12,
      author = {Tian Tian},
      title = {The Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Relation to Vocabulary Size of Students in Chinese Universities},
      journal = {Communication and Linguistics Studies},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {80-85},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20190504.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cls.20190504.12},
      abstract = {The study tends to explore vocabulary learning beliefs and strategies employed by students in Chinese universities. The correlations between beliefs/strategies and students’ vocabulary size are also addressed to show the impact of the different vocabulary learning strategies on students’ vocabulary size in China. A questionnaire and a vocabulary test were administered to 105 students from two universities. The questionnaire is adapted from Gu and Hu [1] and the vocabulary levels test is selected from Nation’s [2] vocabulary levels test (the university word list level) to evaluate students’ vocabulary size. With SPSS, statistical descriptions and pearson correlation are undertaken to process the data collected. The analyses of the data reveal that students in Chinese universities are interested in learning vocabulary. They report adopting a number of learning strategies in their vocabulary learning processes. They appear to use metacognitive strategies more often when they learn vocabulary, especially self-initiation. At cognitive level, they are both inclined to adopt dictionary use, guessing, note-taking and activation strategies very often, while encoding and rehearsal are less used. Their vocabulary size has a strong relation with their strategy use at cognitive level, a moderate relation at overall and metacognitive level and no relation with their learning beliefs. The study suggests that teachers should encourage students to hold a positive belief on vocabulary learning and to employ both metacognitive and cognitive strategies in learning vocabulary. Students should pay as much attention to cognitive strategies as to metacognitive strategies.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    AB  - The study tends to explore vocabulary learning beliefs and strategies employed by students in Chinese universities. The correlations between beliefs/strategies and students’ vocabulary size are also addressed to show the impact of the different vocabulary learning strategies on students’ vocabulary size in China. A questionnaire and a vocabulary test were administered to 105 students from two universities. The questionnaire is adapted from Gu and Hu [1] and the vocabulary levels test is selected from Nation’s [2] vocabulary levels test (the university word list level) to evaluate students’ vocabulary size. With SPSS, statistical descriptions and pearson correlation are undertaken to process the data collected. The analyses of the data reveal that students in Chinese universities are interested in learning vocabulary. They report adopting a number of learning strategies in their vocabulary learning processes. They appear to use metacognitive strategies more often when they learn vocabulary, especially self-initiation. At cognitive level, they are both inclined to adopt dictionary use, guessing, note-taking and activation strategies very often, while encoding and rehearsal are less used. Their vocabulary size has a strong relation with their strategy use at cognitive level, a moderate relation at overall and metacognitive level and no relation with their learning beliefs. The study suggests that teachers should encourage students to hold a positive belief on vocabulary learning and to employ both metacognitive and cognitive strategies in learning vocabulary. Students should pay as much attention to cognitive strategies as to metacognitive strategies.
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Author Information
  • School of Foreign Languages & Cultures, Beijing Wuzi University, Beijing, China

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