Involvement Load Hypothesis: Word Meaning Retention across Oral and Written Task Types

Abstract

Involvement Load Hypothesis for the first time has been proposed by Laufer and Hulstijn (2001). Based on their theory, second language vocabulary learning, consists of three basic components: need, search, and evaluation. Those Tasks which induce a higher involvement load are more effective than those with lower involvement. The important question is that which modality has the higher effect on task involvement load? In order to answer this question, this study aims at discussing the effect of modality-based activities, that is, Listening and Reading, on task-induced involvement on vocabulary learning of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners. To do so, 36 EFL learners from three branches of an English institute were selected. In order to have a more homogeneous sample population Nelson‟s (1977) placement test was administered. Based on their scores, students were classified into two high and low proficient groups. Then participants were then randomly assigned to two groups: The first group receives reading input and the second group receives listening input. The comparison of the students‟ performance in the immediate posttests revealed that the students who received reading task were more successful in the retention of newly-learned vocabularies and there wasn‟t significance difference between groups after the delayed posttest.