Strategy Use in CALL-Based Self-Directed Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning

Jing Wu

doi:10.37237/080106

Abstract

This paper explores whether the CALL-based self-directed vocabulary learning could significantly improve students’ strategy use and thereby enhance their self-directed vocabulary learning in comparison with the paper-based version. Subjects for the study were sixty-one freshmen from two classes at a university in China. They were randomly assigned to adopt a newly-developed learning system and a corresponding printed material. Subjects completed pre- and post- questionnaire surveys at the start and end of the study respectively, through which data were collected on students’ satisfaction levels with their strategy use. It was ultimately revealed that there were key differences in strategy use between the two groups.

Highlights

Vocabulary learning plays a crucial role in the success of foreign language (FL) learning because words lie at the foundation of sentence construction as basic building blocks
A comparison of students’ satisfaction levels with the effects of the traditional and intended materials was made within each group by Independent samples t-test to check whether the intended material was significantly more satisfying to students than the traditional in stimulating their overall strategy use
The mean scores (4.54 and 4.87) illustrate that students were more satisfied with the effect of the printed material on their overall strategy use in self-directed vocabulary learning than that of the traditional material

Summary

Introduction

Vocabulary learning plays a crucial role in the success of foreign language (FL) learning because words lie at the foundation of sentence construction as basic building blocks. A comparison of students’ satisfaction levels with the effects of the traditional and intended materials was made within each group by Independent samples t-test to check whether the intended material was significantly more satisfying to students than the traditional in stimulating their overall strategy use.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion