Abstract
<p>This paper strives to explore the impact of Native Language use on Foreign Language vocabulary learning on the basis of empirical and available data. The study is carried out with special reference to the English Language Programme students in Buraydah Community College, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. The Native Language of these students is Arabic and their Second Language is English. The participants in this research study are the post-secondary students of Buraydah Community College in Intensive Course Programme. The instrument used in this study was in the form of two tests. It is well known that in language assessment tests play a pivotal role in evaluating the EFL learners’ language proficiency. The use of native language as a semantic tool for assessing second language learners’ understanding shouldn’t be rejected altogether especially for the undergrad Saudi EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students. The outcomes of the study show that in learning the vocabulary of target language is significantly helped by the use of translation method of native language (Arabic) in understanding the meaning of novel words and expressions of foreign language (English). This method is widely welcomed by majority of the students of Buraydah Community College. It’s recommended to use this method in order to take the students directly to the core meaning of the word or expression. It also, sometimes, gives a sense of accuracy of the meaning of native language equivalents.</p>
Highlights
The outcomes of the study show that in learning the vocabulary of target language is significantly helped by the use of translation method of native language (Arabic) in understanding the meaning of novel words and expressions of foreign language (English)
The process of second language learning is different from the first language or native language acquisition (e.g., Atwill, 2007; Bley-Vroman, 1990), but it is mostly understood that aspects affecting someone’s ability to acquire a second language do not play a role in native-language development (e.g., Dörnyei, 2001)
The current study exhibits that native language translation of words play a pivotal role in the second language learning especially the different horizons of native and target language transfer patterns
Summary
The process of second language learning is different from the first language or native language acquisition (e.g., Atwill, 2007; Bley-Vroman, 1990), but it is mostly understood that aspects affecting someone’s ability to acquire a second language (e.g., motivation) do not play a role in native-language development (e.g., Dörnyei, 2001). It is a well-known fact that knowledge of second language influences the ability to manage the information in the first language (e.g., Marian & Spivey, 2003). The current study exhibits that native language translation of words play a pivotal role in the second language learning especially the different horizons of native and target language transfer patterns. By integrating these two lines of research, the current study tested whether factors that have been linked to successful L2 acquisition influence native-language vocabulary of the bilingual speakers: English-Arabic
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