Vocabulary size and vocabulary learning strategy among Chinese undergraduates at Universiti Putra Malaysia
List of Authors
  • Al-shujair, Yasir Bdaiwi Jasim , Ma, Yuepeng , Rahman, Arifur

Keyword
  • Chinese EFL students, vocabulary learning strategies, vocabulary size

Abstract
  • While studies have investigated the strategies used by Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners to learn new words and the relationship with their current vocabulary knowledge, there is a lack of studies that examine the vocabulary learning strategie s (VLSs) and vocabulary sizes of Chinese students studying abroad in the L2 context. In view of the increasing number of Chinese students studying in ESL communities, this study aims to determine the vocabulary size of Chinese undergraduates at a high rank ing public university in Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and to discover the extent to which they employ a range of VLSs. Accordingly, 30 students enrolled in various degree programmes were randomly selected to take part in this study. The voc abulary size test (Schmitt, Schmitt, & Clapham, 2001) and a vocabulary level questionnaire based on Schmitt’s (1997) taxonomy of VLSs were adopted as the data collection instruments. The findings showed that, on average, the participants have a “ vocabulary size at the 3,000 and the 5,000 word level, which according to Schmitt et al. (2001) enables learners in reading different authentic texts. However, Nation and Beglar (2007), Schmitt and Schmitt (2014), Coxhead, Nation, and Sim (2015) suggested that non native undergraduates studying in English as a medium of instruction (EMI) colleges and universities require a vocabulary size of 9,000 word family. The findings of this research raised important concerns that require our attention on the Chinese undergraduates studying in EMI context are at risk due to their insufficient vocabulary size. Moreover, results also revealed that the participants used direct VLSs such as memory and cognitive strategies the most. Taken together, the findings of this res earch provide insights into undergraduates’ overall inadequate vocabulary size, and how different VLSs were employed to cope with academic demands.

Reference
  • 1. Adolphs, S., & Schmitt, N. (2004). Vocabulary coverage according to spoken discourse context. In P. Bogaards& B. Laufer (Eds.), Vocabulary in a second language (pp. 39 –49). Amsterdam: Benjamins.
    2. Al-Khasawneh, F. M. (2012). Vocabulary learning strategies: a Case of Jordan University of Science and Technology. English for Specific Purposes World, 12(34), 1-15.
    3. Bennett, K., & Allen, P. (2012). SPSS Statistics A Practical Guide Version 20. (1st ed.) South Melbourne, Vic: Cengage Learning Australia Pty Limited.
    4. Amirian, S. M. R., & Heshmatifar, Z. (2013). A survey on vocabulary learning strategies: A case of Iranian EFL university students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 4(3), 636-641.
    5. Bedell, D. A., & Oxford, R. L. (1996). Cross-cultural comparisons of language learning strategies in the People’s Republic of China and other countries. In R. L. Oxford (Ed.), Language learning strategies around the world: Crosscultural perspectives (pp. 47–60). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press.
    6. Birkenhead, J. (2011). Vocabulary Proficiency as a Marker of Academic Success: A Small-scale Investigation of Undergraduate Writing Within a Discipline (Doctoral dissertation, Carleton University).
    7. Bryman, A., & Cramer, D. (2001). Quantitative data analysis with SPSS Release 10 for Windows: a guide for social scientists. London: Routledge.
    8. Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge. UK: Cambridge University Press.
    9. Carter, R. and M. McCarthy (1988) Vocabulary and Language Teaching. London: Longman.
    10. Chang, S. J. (1991). A study of language learning behaviors of Chinese students at the University of Georgia and the relation of those behaviors to oral proficiency and other factors. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
    11. Cloate, R. (2016). The relationship between international students’ English test scores and their academic achievements. Journal of pedagogic development, 6, (2), 3-8.
    12. Coady, J., Magoto, J., Hubbard, P., Graney, J., & Mokhtari, K. (1993). High frequency vocabulary and reading proficiency in ESL readers. In T. Huckin, M. Haynes, & J. Coady (Eds.), Second language reading and vocabulary learning (pp. 217– 226). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
    13. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
    14. Coxhead, A., Nation, I. S. P., & Sim, D. (2015). Measuring the vocabulary size of native speakers of English in New Zealand secondary schools. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 50(1), 121–135.
    15. Daller, M. H., & Phelan, D. (2013). Predicting international student study success. Applied Linguistics Review, 4(1), 173-193.
    16. Elder, C., & von Randow, J. (2008). Exploring the utility of a web-based English language screening tool. Language Assessment Quarterly, 5(3), 173-194.
    17. Fan, M. Y. (2003). Frequency of use, perceived usefulness, and actual usefulness of second language vocabulary strategies: A study of Hong Kong learners, Modern Language Journal, 87(2), 222-241.
    18. Ghouati, A. El. (2014). Investigating Vocabulary Learning Strategies: Master Students of the English Department of Meknes as a Case Study. International Journal of Bilingual & Multilingual Teachers of English. 2(1), 1-14.
    19. Goh, C., & Foong, K. P. (1997). Chinese ESL students’ learning strategies: A look at frequency, proficiency, and gender. Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2(1), 39-53.
    20. Gu, Y. (2010). Learning strategies for vocabulary development. Reflections on English Language Teaching, 9(2), 105-118.
    21. Gu, Y. Q., & Johnson, R. (1996). Vocabulary learning strategies and language outcomes. Language Learning, 46(4), 643–679.
    22. Gupta, P., & MacWhinney, B. (1997). Vocabulary acquisition and verbal short-term memory: Computational and neural bases. Brain and language, 59(2), 267-333. Retrieved from http:psyling.psy.cmu.edu/papers/vpcab.pdf.
    23. Hacking, J. F., Rubio, F., & Tschirner, E. (2019). Vocabulary size, reading proficiency and curricular design: The case of college Chinese, Russian and Spanish. In Foreign Language Proficiency in Higher Education (pp. 25-44). Springer, Cham.
    24. Hirsh, D., & Nation, P. (1992). What vocabulary size is needed to read unsimplified texts for pleasure?. Reading in a foreign language, 8(2), 689-689. Hunt, A., & Beglar, D. (2005). A framework for developing EFL reading vocabulary. Reading in a foreign language, 17(1), 23-59.
    25. Kablani, R. (2006). Frequency of Use and Perceived Usefulness of Vocabulary Learning Strategies by Moroccan University EFL Students. (Unpublished Master thesis, Faculty of Education, Rabat, Morocco).
    26. Kachru, B. B. (2006). The English language in the outer circle. World Englishes, 3, 241-255. Kafipour, R., Yazdi, M., Soori, A., & Shokrpour, N (2011). Vocabulary levels and vocabulary learning strategies of Iraninan undergraduate students. Studies in Literature and Language, 3(3), 64-71.
    27. Kalajahi, S. A. R., & Pourshahian, B. (2012). Vocabulary learning strategies and vocabulary size of ELT students at EMU in Northern Cyprus. English Language Teaching, 5(4), 138.
    28. Kirchner, R. (2013) The Results of A Vocabulary Levels Test: Version 1 Conducted with Foundation Year Chinese Students. English Teaching in China, 2, 1 -5. Retrieved from http://etic.xjtlu.edu.cn/PDF/issue_02/kirchner_2013.pdf.
    29. Komol, T., & Sripetpun, W. (2011). Vocabulary learning strategies employed by undergraduate students and its relationship to their vocabulary knowledge. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences, Prince of Songkla University. Retrieved from http://fs.libarts.psu.ac.th/research/conference/proceedings-3/2pdf/008.pdf.
    30. Komol, T., & Sripetpun, W. (2014). Vocabulary learning strategies employed by undergraduate students and its relationship to their vocabulary knowledge. In Proceedings of the 3 rd International Conference on Humanities and Social Science (pp. 1-18). Prince of Songkla University.
    31. Kremmel, B., & Schmitt, N. (2016). Interpreting vocabulary test scores: What do various item formats tell us about learners’ ability to employ words?. Language Assessment Quarterly, 13(4), 377-392.
    32. Li, L., & MacGregor, L. J. (2010). Investigating the receptive vocabulary size of university-level Chinese learners of English: how suitable is the Vocabulary Levels Test?. Language and education, 24(3), 239-249. Liu, J. (2016). Role of Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) in Chinese undergraduate students’ comprehension of textbooks. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(2), 364-369.
    33. Lou, Y. (2014, January). Study on vocabulary learning strategies for Chinese English-Majors. In Proceedings of International Conference on Management, Education and Social Science (ICMESS 2014) (pp. 45-49). Atlantis Press.
    34. Manan, S.A. (2016). Building on children’s linguistic resources: A socio-culturally responsive pedagogy for English language teaching in Pakistan. Philippine ESL Journal, 17, 67–85.
    35. Milton, J. (2013). Measuring the contribution of vocabulary knowledge to proficiency in the four skills. In: Bardel, C.; Lindqvist, C. & Laufer, B. (Eds.) L2 Vocabulary 126 Acquisition, Knowledge and Use: New Perspectives on Assessment and Corpus Analysis. European Second Language Association (57-78).
    36. Milton, J., & Treffers-Daller, J. (2013). Vocabulary size revisited: the link between vocabulary size and academic achievement. Applied Linguistics Review, 4(1), 151-172.
    37. Nation, I. S. (2013). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language Google eBook. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
    38. Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge: Cambridge.
    39. Nation, I. S. P., & Beglar, D. (2007). A vocabulary size test. The Language Teacher, 31 (7), 9-13. Nemati, A. (2008). Use and Rankings of Vocabulary Learning Strategies by Indian EFL Learners. Language in India, 8(4).
    40. Oxford, R. L. (1990). Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. New York: Newbury House.
    41. Oxford, R., & Crookall, D. (1989). Research on language learning strategies: Methods, findings, and instructional issues. The Modern Language Journal, 73(4), 404-419.
    42. Oxford, R.L. (2003). Language learning styles and strategies: An overview. GALA. Retrieved from http://www.education.umd.edu/EDCI/SecondLangED/TESOL/People/Faculity/Dr%20Oxford/StylesStrategies.doc
    43. Peacock, M., & Ho, B. (2003). Student language learning strategies across eight disciplines. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(2), 179-200. Phakiti, A. (2015). Experimental research methods in language learning. Bloomsbury Publishing.
    44. Qian, D.D. (2002). Investigating the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and academic reading comprehension: An assessment perspective. Language Learning, 52(3), 513-536.
    45. Rahman, A, (2017). Association among vocabulary size, academic achievement, English language proficiency, and language dominance. (Unpublished MA thesis. Faculty of Modern Languages, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang).
    46. Rao, Z. (2006). Understanding Chinese students' use of language learning strategies from cultural and educational perspectives. Journal of multilingual and multicultural development, 27(6), 491-508.
    47. Roche, T., & Harrington, M. (2013). Recognition vocabulary knowledge as a predictor of academic performance in an English as a foreign language setting. Language Testing in Asia, 3(1), 1-13.
    48. Sahbazian, S. (2004). Perceived vocabulary learning strategies of Turkish university students. (Unpublished PhD thesis, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA).
    49. Schimitt, N., Schmitt, D., & Clapham, C. (2001). Developing and exploring the behavior of two new versions of the Vocabulary Levels Test. Language Testing, 18(1), 55-88.
    50. Schmitt, N. (1997). Vocabulary learning strategies. In N. Schmitt & M. McCarthy (Eds.), Vocabulary: Description, acquisition and pedagogy, (pp. 199-227). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    51. Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
    52. Schmitt, N., & Schmitt, D. (2014). A reassessment of frequency and vocabulary size in L2 vocabulary teaching. Language Teaching, 47(04), 484-503. Science and Technology. English for Specific Purposes World, 12(34), 1-15. Seffar, S. (2005). Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition and Learning Strategies: The case of Moroccan University Students. (Unpublished Master thesis. Faculty of Education, Rabat, Morocco).
    53. Stæhr, L. S. (2008). Vocabulary size and the skills of listening, reading, and writing. Language Learning Journal, 36(2), 139-152.
    54. Teng, F. (2014). Vocabulary growth for low-proficiency students through reading graded readers. In 1st TRI-ELE International Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.
    55. Teng, F. (2015). Assessing the Relationship between Vocabulary Learning Strategy Use and Vocabulary Knowledge. PASAA: Journal of Language Teaching and Learning in Thailand, 49, 39-65. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1077911.pdf.
    56. Webb, S. & Rodgers, M. P. H. 2009a. The vocabulary demands of television programs. Language Learning, 59(2), 335-366.
    57. Webb, S. & Rodgers, M. P. H. 2009b. The lexical coverage of movies. Applied Linguistics, 30 (3), 407-427.
    58. Wei, M. (2007). An examination of vocabulary learning of college-level learners of English in China. Asian EFL Journal, 9(2), 93-114.
    59. Wenyu, W. (1998). Beliefs, strategies and English vocabulary retention. Foreign Language Teaching and Research, 40(1), 49-54.
    60. Wharton, G. (2000). Language learning strategy use of bilingual foreign language learners in Singapore. Language learning, 50(2), 203-243.
    61. White, T. G., Graves, M. F., & Slater, W. H. (1990). Growth of reading vocabulary in diverse elementary schools: Decoding and word meaning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(2), 281.
    62. Wilkins, D. (1972). Linguistics in language teaching. Cambridge: CPU.
    63. Wu, M.M. (2008). Language learning strategy use of Chinese ESL learners of Hong Kong-Findings from a qualitative study. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 5(1), 68-83.
    64. Xiang, P.L., & Fulcher, G. (2007). Reliability assessment for two versions of Vocabulary Levels Test. System, 35, 182-197.
    65. Yixin, W., & Daller, M. (2014, September). Predicting Chinese students’ academic achievement in the UK. In Proceedings of the 47th Annual Meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics, Learning, Working and Communicating in a Global Context (pp. 217-227). University of Warwick, Coventry.
    66. Zhang, B. (2009). FL Vocabulary Learning of Undergraduate English Majors in Western China: Perspective, Strategy Use and Vocabulary Size. English Language Teaching, 2(3), 178-185.
    67. Zhang, Y. H. (2011). The use of vocabulary learning strategies by good and poor language learners: a case study of Chinese non-English major sophomores. (Unpublished MA. Thesis. Kristianstad University, Sweden).
    68. Zhihong, Y. (2000). Learning words. Forum, 38(3). Retrieved from http://exchange.state.gov/forum/vols/vol38/no3/p18.htm.