The Comparative Effectiveness of Conventional and Online Approaches to Acquiring Vocabulary

Abstract

Many people who are learning a second language are interested in determining the most effective or optimal strategy, activity, or method for acquiring vocabulary in that language. This is because the process of learning vocabulary in a second language is difficult and time-consuming. In spite of the plethora of research that provides recommendations and conclusions on vocabulary learning, such as the benefits of maintaining a notebook, periodically reviewing vocabulary, and putting vocabulary items in context, it is still difficult to provide a definitive answer to this question. The purpose of this research is to investigate and assess the efficacy of traditional teaching methods that are utilized in upper-intermediate Academic English classes in comparison to the effectiveness of online vocabulary instruction. The students who were assigned to the control group used flashcards and notebooks to study vocabulary terms that were taken from ten different reading passages. WordChamp was utilized by the students who were a part of the experimental group in order to conduct an in-depth analysis and study of the particular vocabulary words that were offered in the texts. Additionally, both groups were subjected to frequent evaluations of the language items that were being used. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the two strategies was carried out with the help of the post-test. Students who were part of the experimental group had a better recollection of the terms they had learned online, according to the findings of a follow-up evaluation that was conducted three months later. This was in comparison to the students who were part of the control group.