The Relationship between Vocabulary Learning Strategy Preferences and Vocabulary Size among Iranian EFL Learners

• Main Authors: Najmeh Maghsoudi, Mohammad Golshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lasting Impressions Press 2017-09-01
• Series: International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies
• Subjects: Vocabulary learning strategy; vocabulary size; strategy preferences; Iranian EFL learners; SILL
• Online Access: http://www.eltsjournal.org/archive/value5%20issue3/13-5-3-17.pdf
• ISSN: 2308-5460; 2308-5460

The present study was an attempt to explore the vocabulary learning strategy preferences among Iranian EFL learners. It also investigated the relationship between their vocabulary learning strategy use and vocabulary size. To this end, 90 Iranian EFL learners were selected as the participants of the study based on convenience sampling at Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran. The instrument used in the current study was Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) consisting of six different categories of vocabulary learning strategies. The other instrument was Nation’s vocabulary size test which assessed the learners’ lexical knowledge. In order to address the research questions, Freidman Test and Spearman Correlation were conducted. The results revealed that the most frequently used vocabulary learning strategy subgroup was metacognitive and the least frequent one was social strategy. Besides, no significant correlation was found between vocabulary size and vocabulary learning strategies except a small and reverse correlation between the vocabulary size and compensation strategy. The important implication of the study is that if students get aware of vocabulary learning strategies, they may develop their vocabulary size more easily and effectively.