Vocabulary learning strategies in the digital age
Dr. Alfredo Marín Marín
[email protected]
Contents • Importance of vocabulary in language learning. • Aspects involved in knowing a word. • Defining Vocabulary Learning Strategies (2005). • A classification of Vocabulary Learning Strategies. • Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire (2002). • Vocabulary Learning Strategies Survey (2018). • What learners report on VLS use in the digital age. • Digital resources to enhance vocabulary learning. • Concluding remarks.
Importance of vocabulary in language learning • “. . . while without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed” (Wilkins, 1972). • Vocabulary: the neglected area in language teaching (Meara, 1980). • “If language structures make up the skeleton of language, then it is vocabulary that provides the vital organs and the flesh” (Harmer, 1991). • Vocabulary contributes more to reading than grammar.
Aspects involved in knowing a word Form (written, spoken, word parts)
Use (grammatical functions, collocations, constraints on use)
Meaning (concepts and referents, associations)
Adapted from Nation (2001)
Defining Vocabulary Learning Strategies (2005). • Vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) are those conscious and unconscious, planned and unplanned steps and actions that L2 learners take to discover and consolidate the form, meaning and use of words (Marin, 2005).
What Ngram Viewer can tell…
A classification of VLS • Guessing strategies (7). • Skipping strategies (2). • Dictionary use strategies (9). • Social-discovery strategies(11). • Note-taking strategies (24). • Repetition strategies (9). • Association strategies (12). • Further consolidation strategies (4).
The VLS Questionnaire (2002)
The ten most-frequently used VLS
The ten least-frequently used VLS
The Vocabulary Learning Strategies Survey (2018)
What learners report on VLS use in the digital age LEARNING VOCABULARY IN GENERAL I regularly watch Netflix series or reads some books. The way I practise my English is by speaking with my classmates in the target language.
I take a look at lyrics and pay attention to pronunciation.
I read a light novel of anything that I like.
I look up the words I do not understand in a dictionary and write them in my notebook
I like reading the news in English because in that way I learn different vocabulary and terms that are not commonly used in our daily basis. I practice a lot by talking to native speakers I meet online, and I like to speak English to my family despite the fact they don't speak the language.
When I need to practice new vocabulary, I use to chat with friends with other countries and use the new knowledge.
What learners report on VLS use in the digital age MEETING NEW VOCABULARY When I see new vocabulary I look for the meaning, thanks to the new technological trends in mobile applications it is easier to look for the definitions.
I search the meaning on internet and read some examples
I look for the meaning on the internet and try to look for examples
I go to google traductor or I use a student's dictionary.
Searching in Google, or i ask to my mom (is a English teacher)
I have a dictionary with me so, when I hear or see a new vocabulary i found the meaning in the dictionary.
What learners report on VLS use in the digital age KEEPING VOCABULARY NOTES When I’m at home, I have a notebook where I write the new words I learn, when I’m at other place, I type them on my phone.
I use the notes app on my tablet.
Grammar, making tables, underline the words that I don’t understand
Yes I keep small pieces of paper on my wallet or on my notebook on the edges of them .
In my history... I have my offline dictionaries.. So there I save my words
Notebook and sometimes in my phone notes
What learners report on VLS use in the digital age MEMORISING/RETAINING NEW WORDS I relate the word to an image.
I repeat them in loud voice. I try to use them in my conversations.
Easy, I used to use them talking to me or answering letters on Slowly.
I put them on a sheet of paper and study them so I can learn them.
I usually just create a relation between words and the situation/context I learned them from.
Asociate words with any memory and some phrase of someone
Digital resources to enhance vocabulary According to K. Tyson (2018) Digital resources have several advantages. For example, many allow students to: • hear pronunciations; (test hypotheses about language)* • read words in a variety of authentic examples; • view photos and images related to words (important for English language learners); • reinforce word learning through interactive games; • play with and manipulate language; • discover rhyming words; and • collaborate with classmates to create virtual word walls.
Digital resources to enhance vocabulary • Reference Tools, • Word Clouds, • Games and Review, • Word Walls and Virtual Field Trips. • https://www.teachthought.com/literacy/ 21-digital-tools-build-vocabulary/
Reference Tools Thesaurus Shahi
Lingro
Lexipedia
Wordnik
Snappy Words
Word Clouds
https://wordart.com
Games and Review Wordzap
Flashcard Stash
Vocab Games
Vocab Spelling City
Vocab Ahead
Free rice
The World Food Programme (WFP)
Word Walls
https://padlet.com/amarin70/cz8orfq16fjv
Concluding remarks • Vocabulary still plays a crucial role in language learning and teaching. • VLS use has not changed much over the years; changes are observed in Discovery and Note Taking Strategies. • Self-management seems to emerge as a digital competence in L2 learners. • Also, learners seem to rely on printed materials, regardless of the array of digital resources.
