The Effect of L1 on Learning New L2 Vocabulary among Intermediate Proficiency Level Students

Abstract

During the last decades, the role of mother tongue in language teaching has been the subject of a host of research studies ;however, quite rarely have researchers addressed such issues as comparing the use of mother tongue and other teaching techniques like paraphrasing and translation effects on students' reading comprehension ability and their ability in learning new English vocabulary. This study aimed to explore whether paraphrases vs. translations of new words in general English passages make any significant difference in intermediate proficiency level learners of English new vocabulary learning. It also aims to examine whether paraphrases or translations of texts at intermediate proficiency level affect significantly students' level of reading comprehension. The data for this study were collected through one proficiency test, 3 comprehension tests and one vocabulary test from 60 English students who study at SADR Private Language School in Isfahan. The data were analyzed descriptively and also inferentially. The overall findings of the study indicated that there was no significant difference between the comprehension of those who received Persian translation of new vocabulary and those who dealt with the paraphrase of the same new words and those who did not receive any L1 translation or paraphrase. The results for vocabulary test showed those who received the mother tongue definitions in front of each new word in the passage did perform significantly better on the vocabulary test than the other two groups. However study would help teachers and teacher trainers to construct and implement L1 and paraphrase in English classes more effectively

The Effect of Word Type on the L1 Support for L2 Vocabulary Learning: The Case of Arab EFL Learners

“…The L1-use group demonstrated stronger vocabulary gains as the group performance significantly improved in the immediate and delayed post-tests than the pre-test across word types with an advantage for the immediate post-test for concrete nouns and state verbs. This finding comes in line with earlier studies in support of the benefits of the L1 use in L2 vocabulary learning (e.g., Khan, 2016;Pakzadian, 2012;Tian & Macaro, 2012;Liu, 2008;Ramachandran & Abdul Rahim, 2004).…”

“…Based on earlier research highlighting the benefits of L1 use in support of L2 vocabulary learning (e.g., Khan, 2016;Pakzadian, 2012;Tian & Macaro, 2012), the current study aimed to examine the L1 use from a relatively new direction. The study examined the effect of word type (defined in terms of concrete versus abstract nouns and action versus state verbs) on the L1 benefits.…”

“…The use of Persian as a L1 in EFL classrooms was also investigated. For example, Pakzadian (2012) investigated the effect of the use of L1 translation equivalents versus L2 paraphrases on the reading comprehension and vocabulary learning of Iranian EFL learners. The participants were all Persian-speaking studying English at a private language school in Isfhan, Iran.…”

The influence of Pidgin English on educational outcomes among secondary school students in Nigeria

“…This is perhaps less immediately evident, but most language learners and teachers would testify to it .It is also a popular belief that the role of the L1 in SLA is a negative one. That is, the L1 gets in the way or interferes with the learning of L2 (Ellis, 1989;Pakzadian, 2012). This view comes from a learning theory called behaviorism.…”

The Role of First Language on The Second Language Acquisition

“…In other words they have learned experience of the first language how it works with world learning new words. It is clear that native language has an important impact on foreign language how to be learned and sometime second language learners can guess the word meaning then they can save the words and meaning together (Pakzadian, 2012(Pakzadian, , p. 1148. So, according to this idea the base of learning vocabularies of second International Journal of Kurdish Studies Vol.4/1 ( January 2018 ) language is the first language, which it is very helpful for the learners and develop their lexicon.…”