The Use of Vocabulary Notebooks for EFL Non-majors' ESP Vocabulary Acquisition

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/ictep.2336

Keywords:

vocabulary knowledge, ESP vocabulary acquisition, vocabulary notebooks, recommendations on teaching ESP vocabulary

Abstract

English for Special Purposes (ESP) students often struggle with vocabulary acquisition. Vocabulary notebooks are a potential solution. This study investigates the effectiveness of vocabulary notebooks in supporting vocabulary expansion and retention for 30 intermediate-level ESP students in a 15-week International Relations class. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach based on a questionnaire, pre-test, post-test, and data analysis. The results show a statistically significant improvement in vocabulary acquisition and retention among students who used vocabulary notebooks. The findings suggest that vocabulary notebooks are a useful tool for ESP students, particularly in the acquisition of specialized vocabulary. Hence, the study also identified areas where the implementation of vocabulary notebooks could be improved, such as the need for explicit instruction and scaffolding to support effective use. This study highlights the potential of vocabulary notebooks and provides insights into how they can be effectively used to support ESP vocabulary acquisition.

Author Biographies

Tran Thi Cuc, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Saigon University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tran Thi Cuc, a lecturer at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Saigon University, graduated with master's degrees in English Linguistics from Ho Chi Minh the City University of Technology and in International Business and Finance from De Montfort University, UK. Besides higher-education teaching and doing research works on teaching-learning English methodology, and translation, she has published research articles on the Journal of Language and Life with ISSN 0868-3409 and proceedings at international conferences held in Vietnam.

 

 

Do Manh Cuong, Faculty of English Language

Do Manh Cuong is currently a lecturer of English linguistics at the Faculty of English language, HUTECH University, Vietnam. He obtained his MA in TESOL from Victoria University, Australia. He has been teaching English as a foreign language and for specific purposes at universities in Ho Chi Minh City for nearly 20 years. With his passion for researching teaching and learning English, the research areas of interest are mainly in EFL teaching methodology, intercultural communicative competence in ELT, discourse analysis, and translation.

 

 

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Published

09-03-2023

How to Cite

Tran, T. C., & Do, M. C. (2023). The Use of Vocabulary Notebooks for EFL Non-majors’ ESP Vocabulary Acquisition. ICTE Conference Proceedings, 3, 68–81. https://doi.org/10.54855/ictep.2336

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