The Effects of Input Enhancement on Incidental Academic Word Learning

Abstract

Reading contributes to vocabulary development and is regarded as an efficient pedagogical approach to vocabulary learning. Through reading, learners are exposed to new words in their rightful context of use. This study investigates the effects of input enhancements on incidental academic word learning through reading English academic texts among English as a Second Language (ESL) undergraduates. The study compares different input conditions, gloss, contextual clue and no clue. Twelve academic words from Coxhead’s Academic Word List (AWL) were selected as the target words for this study. Three vocabulary tests were employed to assess academic words learnt incidentally from the texts in terms of their form, meaning recognition and ability to recall. Seventy-nine proficient and less proficient Malaysian ESL undergraduates participated in this study. Findings revealed that proficient participants recognised more target words compared to less proficient participants. In addition, gloss increases the noticeability of the target words, at least at the form recognition level. The study’s findings suggest that input enhancement would better impact vocabulary learning if integrated into a reading task or facilitated by vocabulary learning instruction.