This study investigates how orthographic,semantic and contextual variables—including word length,concreteness,and contextual support—impact on the processing and learning of new words in a second language(L2)when fi...This study investigates how orthographic,semantic and contextual variables—including word length,concreteness,and contextual support—impact on the processing and learning of new words in a second language(L2)when first encountered during reading.Students learning English as a foreign language(EFL)were recruited to read sentences for comprehension,embedded with unfamiliar L2 words that occurred once.Immediately after this,they received a form recognition test,a meaning recall test,and a meaning recognition test.Eye-movement data showed significant effects of word length on both early and late processing of novel words,along with effects of concreteness only on late-processing eye-tracking measures.Informative contexts were read slower than neutral contexts,yet contextual support did not show any direct influence on the processing of novel words.Interestingly,initial learning of abstract words was better than concrete words in terms of form and meaning recognition.Attentional processing of novel L2 words,operationalized by total reading time,positively predicted L2 learners’recognition of new orthographic forms.Taken together,these results suggest:1)orthographic,semantic and contextual factors play distinct roles for initial processing and learning of novel words;2)online processing of novel words contributes to L2 learners’initial knowledge of unfamiliar lexical items acquired from reading.展开更多
EFL (English as a Foreign Language) speaking is a very demanding skill that requires learners' socio-pragmatic as well as strategic competence in any interactional situation, and lexis proves to play a crucial role...EFL (English as a Foreign Language) speaking is a very demanding skill that requires learners' socio-pragmatic as well as strategic competence in any interactional situation, and lexis proves to play a crucial role in this process. However, few studies have investigated how both EFL teachers and learners view and analyze situations in which learners are not producing enough spoken language in class, and the reasons behind them. The present study will pinpoint the significant role of lexis in Moroccan learners' speaking production. To this end, 40 EFL teachers and 200 Moroccan high school students are surveyed and interviewed to reveal their perceptions of the speaking skill and the corresponding high significance of lexis in this instance. Results show that both teachers and learners identify vocabulary deficiency as the main factor behind students' inability to speak English. In the present paper, among the many suggestions that could be proposed to deal with this situation, it is argued that one efficient way would be to assist the students during the process of L2 (second language) vocabulary learning through vocabulary learning strategy instruction. Pedagogical and research implication will be given in response to the difficulties encountered in this area as have been identified by the EFL teachers and learners surveyed.展开更多
This paper analyzes attention theory in the cognitive psychology and introduces second language vocabulary acquisition. The filter theory and attention resource theory in the attention theory points out that attention...This paper analyzes attention theory in the cognitive psychology and introduces second language vocabulary acquisition. The filter theory and attention resource theory in the attention theory points out that attention has a key effect on the learner's cognitive vocabulary learning by raising students' expectations for new words, by increasing the frequency of exposure to them, by enhancing their perceptual salience, and by increasing the task demand for word study. The fact proves that enhancing attention in input could promote students' vocabulary acquisition and help them form efficient vocabulary learning strategy suitable for their levels of proficiency.展开更多
At first, this paper presents the origin, developments and main view of Error Analysis. Then, based on the theories of Error Analysis, this paper collected and analyzed 398 errors in 30 compositions randomly selected ...At first, this paper presents the origin, developments and main view of Error Analysis. Then, based on the theories of Error Analysis, this paper collected and analyzed 398 errors in 30 compositions randomly selected from CLEC, written for the exam of CET-4. The results showed that errors were mainly expressed form the aspects of usage of words and forms, and rooted from three sources, the shortage on knowledge of grammar and the lack of standardization on language usage, intralingual transfer and the interlingual transfer. Then, this paper touched upon the principles and methods of English writing to provide with some suggestions for the teaching of English writing in China.展开更多
文摘This study investigates how orthographic,semantic and contextual variables—including word length,concreteness,and contextual support—impact on the processing and learning of new words in a second language(L2)when first encountered during reading.Students learning English as a foreign language(EFL)were recruited to read sentences for comprehension,embedded with unfamiliar L2 words that occurred once.Immediately after this,they received a form recognition test,a meaning recall test,and a meaning recognition test.Eye-movement data showed significant effects of word length on both early and late processing of novel words,along with effects of concreteness only on late-processing eye-tracking measures.Informative contexts were read slower than neutral contexts,yet contextual support did not show any direct influence on the processing of novel words.Interestingly,initial learning of abstract words was better than concrete words in terms of form and meaning recognition.Attentional processing of novel L2 words,operationalized by total reading time,positively predicted L2 learners’recognition of new orthographic forms.Taken together,these results suggest:1)orthographic,semantic and contextual factors play distinct roles for initial processing and learning of novel words;2)online processing of novel words contributes to L2 learners’initial knowledge of unfamiliar lexical items acquired from reading.
文摘EFL (English as a Foreign Language) speaking is a very demanding skill that requires learners' socio-pragmatic as well as strategic competence in any interactional situation, and lexis proves to play a crucial role in this process. However, few studies have investigated how both EFL teachers and learners view and analyze situations in which learners are not producing enough spoken language in class, and the reasons behind them. The present study will pinpoint the significant role of lexis in Moroccan learners' speaking production. To this end, 40 EFL teachers and 200 Moroccan high school students are surveyed and interviewed to reveal their perceptions of the speaking skill and the corresponding high significance of lexis in this instance. Results show that both teachers and learners identify vocabulary deficiency as the main factor behind students' inability to speak English. In the present paper, among the many suggestions that could be proposed to deal with this situation, it is argued that one efficient way would be to assist the students during the process of L2 (second language) vocabulary learning through vocabulary learning strategy instruction. Pedagogical and research implication will be given in response to the difficulties encountered in this area as have been identified by the EFL teachers and learners surveyed.
文摘This paper analyzes attention theory in the cognitive psychology and introduces second language vocabulary acquisition. The filter theory and attention resource theory in the attention theory points out that attention has a key effect on the learner's cognitive vocabulary learning by raising students' expectations for new words, by increasing the frequency of exposure to them, by enhancing their perceptual salience, and by increasing the task demand for word study. The fact proves that enhancing attention in input could promote students' vocabulary acquisition and help them form efficient vocabulary learning strategy suitable for their levels of proficiency.
文摘At first, this paper presents the origin, developments and main view of Error Analysis. Then, based on the theories of Error Analysis, this paper collected and analyzed 398 errors in 30 compositions randomly selected from CLEC, written for the exam of CET-4. The results showed that errors were mainly expressed form the aspects of usage of words and forms, and rooted from three sources, the shortage on knowledge of grammar and the lack of standardization on language usage, intralingual transfer and the interlingual transfer. Then, this paper touched upon the principles and methods of English writing to provide with some suggestions for the teaching of English writing in China.