RATIONALE OF THE STUDY
English serves as a primary language for some countries while others adopt it as a second language in their education systems, making it a vital tool for communication across diverse cultures Furthermore, English dominates fields such as science, technology, and computing, facilitating global connectivity through the Internet and email As a result, proficiency in a foreign language, particularly English, is increasingly essential in today's interconnected world.
Studying a language is inherently linked to vocabulary, as words and their meanings form the foundation of effective communication Vocabulary enables us to construct sentences, engage in conversations, and participate in various forms of discourse Clearly, mastering vocabulary is essential for developing all language skills and for successful language learning.
Studying English vocabulary can be challenging, as students often struggle to memorize new words along with their meanings, spellings, and pronunciations Additionally, many learners find it difficult to apply grammar correctly in sentences Traditional teaching methods can lead to boredom and disengagement, highlighting the need for innovative techniques that make learning English more engaging Implementing these strategies can significantly enhance students' vocabulary acquisition and overall language skills.
Learners often face challenges in mastering new vocabulary due to the multiple meanings associated with each word, which are part of an interconnected system To effectively understand and use words, it is crucial to attain a deep comprehension of their meanings For example, when a speaker selects a new word, it is essential to assign the correct meaning based on the context rather than relying solely on the surface level or the broad spectrum of meanings.
Negative interference in foreign language learning often arises from the influence of the mother tongue, as learners are accustomed to its rules and usage Additionally, large class sizes and a lack of immersive foreign language environments create significant obstacles to effective teaching and learning Frequently, new vocabulary is presented as a list of meanings or in isolation, rather than in context, which hinders comprehension and retention.
2 subtle social or cultural information that each new word provided conveys can be successfully transmitted to students
Learning a second language requires mastering four key skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with vocabulary enrichment being essential for successful acquisition Despite the importance of vocabulary strategies, limited research has focused on effective methods for students to learn foreign language vocabulary There is a pressing need to develop an English Vocabulary List for high school students to enhance their understanding of word formation and relationships, including synonyms, antonyms, collocations, and idiomatic expressions Unfortunately, the introduction of vocabulary teaching as a distinct topic remains scarce at Nguyen Tat Thanh High School.
My ambition is to explore students' vocabulary learning strategies and present effective techniques for teaching English vocabulary in high schools, aiming to enhance students' vocabulary acquisition Despite the limitations of my knowledge and the constraints of my graduation paper, I dedicated my efforts to the research titled "A Study of English Vocabulary Learning Strategies of 12th Graders at Nguyen Tat Thanh High School in Hanoi, Vietnam."
The study investigates the Nguyen Tat Thanh High School pupils‘ perceptions and their actual use of learning English vocabulary strategies in their vocabulary learning Specifically, this study aims to:
- investigate the pupils‘ opinions on learning English vocabulary and their actual vocabulary learning;
- identify if there is a significant difference between the use of the strategies by the high achievers and other participants in the study; and
- suggest some implications for English vocabulary teaching and learning
The study is conducted to answer the following questions:
(1) Which discovery strategies and consolidation strategies do the twelfth form pupils and the high achievers use most frequently?
(2) Which discovery strategies and consolidation strategies do the twelfth form pupils and the high achievers perceive as most useful?
(3) Is there a significant difference between the use of strategies by high achievers and other participants in the study?
(4) How do the high achievers in Nguyen Tat Thanh High School perceive vocabulary learning?
This study aims to explore the Discovery and Consolidation Strategies commonly utilized by English learners and assess their perceived effectiveness It also examines the characteristics and behaviors of high achievers through think-aloud tasks and semi-structured interviews Ultimately, the findings will provide teachers with insights into vocabulary acquisition, enabling them to refine their vocabulary instruction and strategy training methods.
One significant challenge in reading comprehension is vocabulary acquisition This study aims to address this issue by conducting a preliminary exploratory investigation into the strategies students use to learn new vocabulary The research is based on data gathered from questionnaires and oral interviews.
Pupils at Nguyen Tat Thanh High School have distinct perceptions regarding their use of English vocabulary learning strategies, which play a crucial role in enhancing their vocabulary size and enriching their existing word knowledge.
A significant difference between the use of strategies by high achievers and other participants will be seen in the study
The study includes five chapters:
The introductory chapter outlines the rationale, aims, scope, significance, research questions, and an overview of the thesis Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive literature review focused on vocabulary learning strategies and perceptions related to them.
Chapter 2: Methodology, describes the methodology employed in the study, the data collection instruments, the subjects, and the data collection procedures
Chapter 3: Findings and Discussion, presents the results and give some discussions of the results
The conclusion chapter: Conclusion and Implications, summarizes the findings, shows the limitations, gives recommendations and makes suggestions for further research
7 DEFINITION OF TERMS (OR KEY CONSTRUCTS)
1 High achievers (n): Students who have high achievements in English study
3 Language acquisition (n): an asset or object bought or obtained in language learning
4 Vocabulary enrichment (n): Action which helps expand vocabulary size
5 Synonym (n): a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language
6 Antonym (n): a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly opposite to another word or phrase in the same language
7 Collocation (n): the habitual juxtaposition of a particular word with another word or words with a frequency greater than chance
8 Idiom (n): a phrase or a fixed expression that has a figurative or sometimes literal meaning An idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.
9 Discovery Strategies (n): methods to discover new words‘ meaning
10 Consolidation Strategies (n): methods to consolidate new words‘ meaning
The think-aloud task is a valuable method for collecting data in usability testing across various fields, including product design, psychology, and social sciences This technique is commonly applied in areas such as reading, writing, translation research, decision-making, and process tracing, allowing researchers to gain insights into cognitive processes.
A semi-structured interview is a qualitative research method commonly used in the social sciences Unlike structured interviews that adhere to a strict set of questions, semi-structured interviews allow for flexibility, enabling interviewers to explore new ideas and topics based on the responses of the interviewee This approach fosters a more dynamic conversation, leading to richer insights and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
13 Perception (n): the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the environment
14 Comprehension (n): ability to understand—usage
15 Text genres (n): a type of written or spoken discourse
16 First-hand documentation (n): an original document
17 Historical accounts (n): things of or relating to history; concerned with past events
18 Fiction (n): any narrative or descriptive content that is derived from imagination, in addition to, or rather than from, history or fact
19 Semantic (adj): be related to the study of meaning
20 Affixes (n): morphemes attached to a word stem to form a new word
21 Cognates (n): words that have a common etymological origin
22 Morphological relationships (n): relationships relevant to morphology linguistics
23 Efficacy (n): the capacity for beneficial change (or therapeutic effect) of a given intervention, most commonly used in the practice of medicine and pharmacology
24 ELT settings (n): English Language Teaching settings
25 Metaphorical competence (n): A Language Learning Strength of Students with a Holistic Cognitive Style
26 Autonomy (n): Self-government; freedom to act or function independently
27 Follow-through (n): activity to carry through to complete a task; to see a task through to its completion
28 Taxonomy (n): the practice and science of classification of things or concepts, including the principles that underlie such classification
29 Bilingual (adj): be able to speak two languages with the facility of a native speaker
30 Retrieval (n): 1.The process of accessing information from memory or other storage devices 2 The possibility of being retrieved or restored
1.1 Background of vocabulary learning strategies
Verbal language distinguishes humans from animals, with vocabulary playing a crucial role in communication Vocabulary is defined as the complete set of words known and used by an individual, as well as the words that exist within a specific language or subject A child's journey in acquiring speech involves learning new words, while adults with extensive vocabularies demonstrate a superior command of English.
Vocabulary encompasses the understanding of words and their meanings, which can be categorized into oral and print forms Oral vocabulary aids in listening and speaking, while print vocabulary pertains to reading and writing Additionally, word knowledge is divided into receptive and productive vocabulary Receptive vocabulary allows us to recognize words when we hear or see them, whereas productive vocabulary involves using words in speech and writing Typically, receptive vocabulary is larger than productive vocabulary, as it may include words whose full definitions and connotations we do not fully grasp or use in our own communication.