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Abstract
English is an exceptionally rich language in terms of vocabulary, and successful learners often rely on specific strategies to acquire it. While numerous studies have examined Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLS) used by English language learners globally, there is a notable lack of empirical research on this topic in the context of Afghanistan. This study aimed to: (1) identify the VLS employed by undergraduate English learners, (2) examine the relationship between VLS use and gender, (3) investigate the correlation between VLS and students’ academic year, and (4) explore the relationship between VLS and English proficiency levels. A descriptive quantitative research design was adopted for the study. The findings revealed that metacognitive and memory strategies were the most frequently used, whereas social strategies were the least utilized. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that metacognitive strategies were more commonly used by male students, while memory strategies were more prevalent among female students.
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References
- ‐ Ahmad, M. (1989). Vocabulary learning strategies. In P. Meara (Ed.), beyond words. London: CILT. 3-14.
- ‐ Amirian, S. M. R., & Heshmatifar, Z. (2013). A survey on vocabulary learning strategies: A case of Iranian EFL university students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 4(3), 636-641.
- ‐ Arjomand, M., & Sharififar, M. (2011). The most and least frequently used vocabulary learning strategies among Iranian EFL freshman students and its relationship to gender. Iranian EFL Journal, 7(1), 90-100.
- ‐ Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Cambridge University Press.
- ‐ Carranza, E. F., Manga, A. A., Dio, R. V., Jamora, M. J. A., & Romero, F. S. (2015). Vocabulary Learning and Strategies Used by Teacher Education Students. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 3(2).
- ‐ Catalan, R. M. J. (2003). Sex differences in L2 vocabulary learning strategies. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 54-77.
- ‐ Chang, C. K. (1990). How I learned English. Taipei: Bookman Books.
- ‐ Cohen, A. (1998). Strategies in Learning and Using a Second Language. London: Longman.
- ‐ Cresswell, J. (2008). Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. London: SAGE.
- ‐ Ellis, C. (1994). Vocabulary acquisition: The implicit ins and outs of explicit cognitive mediation. In N. Ellis (Ed.) Implicit and explicit learning of languages (pp. 211-282). London: Academic
- ‐ Fan, M (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, 222–241.
- ‐ Gass, S. (1999). Discussion: Incidental vocabulary learning. Studies in second language acquisition, 21(2), 319-333.
- ‐ Gu, P.Y. (1994). Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Good and Poor Chinese EFL Learners. The Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention and Exposition (p. 27). Baltimore.
- ‐ Gu,Y., & Johnson, R. K. (1996). Vocabulary learning strategies and language learning outcomes. Language Learning. 46(6), 643-679.
- ‐ Gu, Y. (2002). Gender, academic major, and vocabulary learning strategies of Chinese EFL learners. RELC Journal, 33(1), 35-54.
- ‐ Hatch, E., & Brown, C. (1995). Vocabulary, Semantics, and Language Education. Cambridge University Press.
- ‐ Hornby, A.S., Cowie, A.P., and Gimson, A.C. (1984). Oxford advanced dictionary of current English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ‐ Intaraprasert, C. (2004). EST students and vocabulary learning strategies: A preliminary investigation. Unpublished research, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
- ‐ Kaur, N., Othman, N. H., & Abdullah, M. K. K. (2017). Lexical competence among tertiary students: teacher-student perspectives. The English Teacher, 15.
- ‐ Kafipour, R., & Naveh, M. H. (2011). Vocabulary learning strategies and their contribution to reading comprehension of EFL undergraduate students in Kerman province. European Journal of Social Sciences, 23(4), 626-647.
- ‐ Kaur, N., Othman, N. H., & Abdullah, M. K. K. (2017). Lexical competence among tertiary students: teacher-student perspectives. The English Teacher, 15.
- ‐ Lam, W., & Wong, J. (2000). The effects of strategy training on developing discussion skills in an ESL classroom. ELT Journal, 54(3), 245-255.
- ‐ Marefat, H., & Ahmadi, S, M. (2003). The impact of teaching of direct learning strategies on the retention of vocabulary by EFL learners. The Reading Matrix, 3(2), 47-62.
- ‐ Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. (2010). Annual Progress Report. http://moe.gov.af/Content/files/1389_Annual_Report_%20English.pdf
- ‐ Moras, S., and Carlos, S. (2001). Teaching vocabulary to advanced students: A lexical approach. Available: http://www.3.telus.net/ linguisticsissues/teaching vocabulary.html
- ‐ Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524759
- ‐ Noori, A. (2018). Attitudes of Afghan EFL Lecturers toward Instructional Technology. TechTrends, 2(62), 17-178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-018-0347-9
- ‐ Noori, A. (2017). ISSUES CAUSING GIRLS’ DROPOUT FROM SCHOOLS IN AFGHANISTAN. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 3(9), 111-116.
- ‐ Oxford, R. L. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Boston: Newbury House.
- ‐ Rubin, J. (1994). A review of second language listening comprehension research. The modern language journal, 78(2), 199-221.
- ‐ Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary. Description, acquisition and pedagogic (pp. 199–227). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
- ‐ Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- ‐ Thompson. I. (1987). Memory in language learning. In A. Wenden & J. Rubin (Eds.), Learner Strategies in Language Learning (pp. 15–30). New Jersy: Prentic-Hall.
- ‐ Wilkins, D. A. (1972). Linguistics in Language Teaching. London: Edward Arnold.
- ‐ Xu, G. (2014). A study on English vocabulary learning strategies used by Chinese college students. Studies in Literature and Language, 9(1), 111.
References
‐ Ahmad, M. (1989). Vocabulary learning strategies. In P. Meara (Ed.), beyond words. London: CILT. 3-14.
‐ Amirian, S. M. R., & Heshmatifar, Z. (2013). A survey on vocabulary learning strategies: A case of Iranian EFL university students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 4(3), 636-641.
‐ Arjomand, M., & Sharififar, M. (2011). The most and least frequently used vocabulary learning strategies among Iranian EFL freshman students and its relationship to gender. Iranian EFL Journal, 7(1), 90-100.
‐ Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Cambridge University Press.
‐ Carranza, E. F., Manga, A. A., Dio, R. V., Jamora, M. J. A., & Romero, F. S. (2015). Vocabulary Learning and Strategies Used by Teacher Education Students. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 3(2).
‐ Catalan, R. M. J. (2003). Sex differences in L2 vocabulary learning strategies. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 54-77.
‐ Chang, C. K. (1990). How I learned English. Taipei: Bookman Books.
‐ Cohen, A. (1998). Strategies in Learning and Using a Second Language. London: Longman.
‐ Cresswell, J. (2008). Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. London: SAGE.
‐ Ellis, C. (1994). Vocabulary acquisition: The implicit ins and outs of explicit cognitive mediation. In N. Ellis (Ed.) Implicit and explicit learning of languages (pp. 211-282). London: Academic
‐ Fan, M (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, 222–241.
‐ Gass, S. (1999). Discussion: Incidental vocabulary learning. Studies in second language acquisition, 21(2), 319-333.
‐ Gu, P.Y. (1994). Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Good and Poor Chinese EFL Learners. The Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention and Exposition (p. 27). Baltimore.
‐ Gu,Y., & Johnson, R. K. (1996). Vocabulary learning strategies and language learning outcomes. Language Learning. 46(6), 643-679.
‐ Gu, Y. (2002). Gender, academic major, and vocabulary learning strategies of Chinese EFL learners. RELC Journal, 33(1), 35-54.
‐ Hatch, E., & Brown, C. (1995). Vocabulary, Semantics, and Language Education. Cambridge University Press.
‐ Hornby, A.S., Cowie, A.P., and Gimson, A.C. (1984). Oxford advanced dictionary of current English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
‐ Intaraprasert, C. (2004). EST students and vocabulary learning strategies: A preliminary investigation. Unpublished research, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
‐ Kaur, N., Othman, N. H., & Abdullah, M. K. K. (2017). Lexical competence among tertiary students: teacher-student perspectives. The English Teacher, 15.
‐ Kafipour, R., & Naveh, M. H. (2011). Vocabulary learning strategies and their contribution to reading comprehension of EFL undergraduate students in Kerman province. European Journal of Social Sciences, 23(4), 626-647.
‐ Kaur, N., Othman, N. H., & Abdullah, M. K. K. (2017). Lexical competence among tertiary students: teacher-student perspectives. The English Teacher, 15.
‐ Lam, W., & Wong, J. (2000). The effects of strategy training on developing discussion skills in an ESL classroom. ELT Journal, 54(3), 245-255.
‐ Marefat, H., & Ahmadi, S, M. (2003). The impact of teaching of direct learning strategies on the retention of vocabulary by EFL learners. The Reading Matrix, 3(2), 47-62.
‐ Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. (2010). Annual Progress Report. http://moe.gov.af/Content/files/1389_Annual_Report_%20English.pdf
‐ Moras, S., and Carlos, S. (2001). Teaching vocabulary to advanced students: A lexical approach. Available: http://www.3.telus.net/ linguisticsissues/teaching vocabulary.html
‐ Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524759
‐ Noori, A. (2018). Attitudes of Afghan EFL Lecturers toward Instructional Technology. TechTrends, 2(62), 17-178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-018-0347-9
‐ Noori, A. (2017). ISSUES CAUSING GIRLS’ DROPOUT FROM SCHOOLS IN AFGHANISTAN. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 3(9), 111-116.
‐ Oxford, R. L. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Boston: Newbury House.
‐ Rubin, J. (1994). A review of second language listening comprehension research. The modern language journal, 78(2), 199-221.
‐ Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary. Description, acquisition and pedagogic (pp. 199–227). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
‐ Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
‐ Thompson. I. (1987). Memory in language learning. In A. Wenden & J. Rubin (Eds.), Learner Strategies in Language Learning (pp. 15–30). New Jersy: Prentic-Hall.
‐ Wilkins, D. A. (1972). Linguistics in Language Teaching. London: Edward Arnold.
‐ Xu, G. (2014). A study on English vocabulary learning strategies used by Chinese college students. Studies in Literature and Language, 9(1), 111.