Abstract
Language teaching has passed through a long way in search of a remedy for language learners and teachers. Countless theories, approaches, and methods have been recommended. With all these, however, more inclusive L2 theories and models ought to be considered to come up with real classroom practices. One of such crucial practices is authenticity, being straightforwardly found in web-based materials in general and Wikipedia texts and tasks in particular. In the same line and based on sound theoretical underpinnings, the place of Wikipedia is investigated in this study as a prospective tool to teach and learn a major language component with practical procedures i.e. vocabulary knowledge. To this end, 36 intermediate Iranian EFL students assigned to two control and experimental groups took part in the study. The results of the tests administered divulged that the learners in the Wikipedia group surpassed those of the control group. Hence, Wikipedia is considered as an encouraging authentic resource to assist EFL learners in improving their vocabulary knowledge. Implications of present findings and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Highlights
Today, there is an agreement that prosperous language education relies greatly on comprehensive tenets of teaching and learning (Brown, 2001; Kumaravadivelu, 2003)
Wikipedia texts are recommended for such linguistic or situational context for the learners to meet the words on several occasions in their learning so as to improve their knowledge and use of words in the foreign or second language (Cameron, 2001)
In response to the enquiry; can Iranian EFL learners’ vocabulary knowledge be improved through Wikipedia texts? Independent Samples Test using SPSS software, version 16 was run for statistical analysis
Summary
There is an agreement that prosperous language education relies greatly on comprehensive tenets of teaching and learning (Brown, 2001; Kumaravadivelu, 2003). These tenets ought to be upheld to develop any task of teaching or learning (Bachman, 1991). In this regard, language specialists are expected to seek those texts and tasks having such requirements. Vocabulary development is an area where teachers are asking for guidance on instructional approaches, strategies, and materials (Berne & Blachowicz, 2008)
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