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Learning and Retaining Technical Vocabulary with Enhancement Activities in an ESP Course

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  • Liju Xu

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of vocabulary enhancement activities on vocabulary learning in an ESP course. In designing the activities, technical terms on journal entries were chosen for the acquisition of language necessary for the successful implementation of accounting major’s professional tasks. The desirable difficulty approach and the four strands principle,focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning and fluency development, were guidelines in combining subject matter and English language learning. To test the result of the activities, the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale was employed to measure students’ knowledge of 50 vocabulary items. Subjects of the ESP course in discussion comprised 200 accounting juniors in Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in China. Half of them in Group A read the texts and did matching exercises and translation exercises. The other half in Group B read the texts and practiced journal entry activity, targeting at accounting concepts and terminologies. The results revealed that Group B gained better results than Group A at a post-test. After the test a reflection on the vocabulary activities was gathered among the participants of Group B. The feedback further proved that the students did benefit from the enhancement activities on selected technical terms.

Suggested Citation

  • Liju Xu, 2018. "Learning and Retaining Technical Vocabulary with Enhancement Activities in an ESP Course," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(10), pages 145-145, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:ibn:eltjnl:v:11:y:2018:i:10:p:145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maryam Sharafi-Nejad & Shohreh Raftari & Maryam Bijami & Zahra Khavari & Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail & Lin Siew Eng, 2014. "The Impact of Vocabulary Enhancement Activities on Vocabulary Acquisition and Retention among Male and Female EFL Learners in Iran," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 7(4), pages 126-126, April.
    2. Mohammad Amiryousefi & Zohreh Kassaian, 2010. "The Effects of Reading Only vs. Reading plus Enhancement Activities on Vocabulary Learning and Production of Iranian Pre-University Students," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 3(2), pages 1-94, June.
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      JEL classification:

      • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
      • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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