Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Azerbaijani Students and its Relation to their Academic and Technical English Vocabulary Knowledge

Abstract

With English turning into a global language among the people in all parts of the world, it has played a similarly essential role in the educational system of Azerbaijan. Vocabulary is a vital and inseparable part of the four language skills in the activity of language learning. This research was aimed at investigating the use of various vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) among Azerbaijani engineering students. Moreover, the overall frequency of strategy use was explored by Azerbaijani learners as high strategy users, medium strategy users, and low strategy users. The study also investigated the students’ academic and technical English vocabulary knowledge, finding that the vocabulary learning strategy use is done in relation to students’ academic and technical English vocabulary knowledge. The descriptive-quantitative research design was employed in this study. Two kinds of research instruments were utilized. A 60-item academic and a 30-item technical vocabulary test and an online questionnaire of vocabulary learning strategies with 23-item were employed. The findings demonstrated that there is not a significant relationship between VLSs and academic and technical English vocabulary knowledge of Azerbaijani engineering students. The research also indicated that meta-cognitive strategies included the most and least frequently used strategies among Azerbaijani learners. Consequently, Azerbaijani engineering students were high strategy users. It is obvious that vocabulary should not be treated as an additional material; on the contrary, syllabus designers and instructors have to put it forward as a vital ability in second or foreign language learning.