Comparative effects of Semantic vs Structural Elaboration on Iranian EFL Learners' Vocabulary Learning Process

Rahmani, Narges; Maleki, Ataollah

doi:10.30479/jmrels.2022.17826.2126

Document Type : research paper

Authors

Narges Rahmani ¹
Ataollah Maleki ²

¹ University of Zanjan

² Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

https://doi.org/10.30479/jmrels.2022.17826.2126

Abstract

Attempting to improve teaching instructions, researchers have proposed numerous instructional techniques. In vocabulary learning as one of the key areas in EFL, inadequate knowledge leads to complications and frequently faces the learners with challenges. This study explores how an instructional technique that employs semantic, structural, and semantic/structural elaboration affects vocabulary learning. The research was carried out with 114 participants who experienced the mentioned elaborations in three groups. For creating a +semantic, +structural, and +semantic/structural climate in each group, participants were given flashcards containing words beside the equivalents, words by numbered letters without any equivalents, and words by numbered letters beside the equivalents, respectively. The data—obtained from Lexical Production Scoring Protocol (LPSP)—were then input into One-way ANOVA and Post-hoc tests. To check the accuracy of Transfer Appropriate Processing (TAP) theory, different tasks during the teaching and testing phases in +semantic were designed. Due to this inconsistency, the findings proved to be in line with TAP theory, suggesting that Level of Processing (LOP) theory should be accompanied with TAP to end in facilitating results. Data analysis -mirroring the Type of Processing–Resource Allocation (TOPRA) effect- indicated that while the +semantic as compared to +semantic/structural facilitated performance on recall of words, had a negative effect in comparison with +structural. Based on the results, the limited processing resources remind curriculum developers to bear in mind which aspect of learning is of more importance to let the learners make the most and best use of their inborn gifts.

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Journal of Modern Research in English Language Studies

Comparative effects of Semantic vs Structural Elaboration on Iranian EFL Learners' Vocabulary Learning Process

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References

Volume 10, Issue 2
April 2023
Pages 45-67

Comparative effects of Semantic vs Structural Elaboration on Iranian EFL Learners' Vocabulary Learning Process

Full Text

Full Text

References

References

Volume 10, Issue 2April 2023Pages 45-67

Volume 10, Issue 2
April 2023
Pages 45-67