Listening comprehension, which is relatively straightforward for native language (L1) speakers, is often frustrating for second language (L2) learners. Listening comprehension is important to L2 acquisition, but little is known about the variables that influence the development of L2 listening skills. The goal of this study was to determine which…

This study examines the proposition that second language learners tend to map second language (L2) lexical forms onto the existing semantic content of their first language (L1) translations rather than creating a separate semantic network for the second language. To test this, the participants (n=9) responded to three semantic judgement tasks. In…

This study evaluated the development of vocabulary knowledge over the course of two academic years, beginning in preschool, in a large sample (N = 944) of language-minority children using scores from single-language vocabulary assessments and conceptual scores. Results indicated that although children began the study with higher raw scores for…

This study investigates the impact of sharing research findings on lexical coverage and vocabulary size with L2 English students. This practical knowledge can be applied toward reading books and other materials. Research has suggested that knowing approximately 98% of the words in a text can lead to adequate reading comprehension (Hu & Nation,…

Academic success depends on the comprehension of a language, which is linked to vocabulary learning. Many distance students in South Africa find it difficult to comprehend learning in a language other than their mother tongue. Finding effective strategies for enhancing English vocabulary of university students amidst the spatial, temporal, and…

While vocabulary development is mostly peripheral to entertainment or socialization, there are opportunities for explicit learning which can complement incidental learning. In fact, recent work based on usage-based language theories calls for a combination of inductive learning and explicit instruction (Ortega, 2015; Tyler & Ortega, 2018). A…

Learners with reading and/or spelling difficulties (RSD) generally also show severe problems in learning EFL. Taking into consideration several observational and interventional studies, this article illustrates some practical and pragmatic means of identifying RSD, and provides possible solutions when addressing these difficulties in ELT…

Researchers have investigated that different dimensions of word knowledge (breadth versus depth) may play distinct roles in second language (L2) reading comprehension. Yet, little research has addressed how learners' efficiency of accessing those dimensions of knowledge functions in their comprehension (i.e., the issue of knowledge availability…

The use of language learning strategies has been linked to effective EFL learning. However, while some researchers have suggested that good language learners use more strategies and more sophisticated strategies than less successful learners, others have disputed the unconditional nature of this view with the suggestion that factors such as task…

This study examined young emergent bilinguals' cognate and false cognate knowledge and vocabulary outcomes on four early-language assessments in English and Spanish. Findings revealed that children were able to use shared phonology of words--before they had developed extensive knowledge about their orthography--to recognize and produce cognates.…

The popularity of technology use in various aspects of individuals' lives has necessitated integrating some form of technologies into language education to have a more effective teaching and learning process. Considering basic and sub-skills in English, vocabulary is probably the most preferred skill to learn by using different technological tools…

Background: Teaching English as home language (EHL) could be a complicated process in a country like South Africa, where there are eleven official languages operating in a multicultural society. This requires capacitating teachers with appropriate and relevant strategies to strengthen their teaching, especially in the foundation phase. Aim: This…

In recent years, the use of English corpora to instruct grammar in writing classes has become increasingly popular. In English for Specific Purposes classes, such a novel approach is critically important since it not only allows teachers to achieve a profound understanding of which syntactic structures should be instructed, but it also increases…

Reading-integrated writing is known as an effective approach to teaching and learning vocabulary as it allows students to transfer vocabulary from a source text to writing. This study examines whether vocabulary transfer from an input text to writing varies according to the two types of tasks: essay writing and synchronous text chat. One hundred…

This paper examined the use of assessment techniques in extensive reading and students' and teachers' perceptions on the practice of extensive reading. A total of 232 university students who were placed at different proficiency levels of classes and 13 professors participated in the study by completing a questionnaire. In-depth interviews were…