The lexicon and extramural English among 5th graders

• This paper is based on a pilot study focusing on young learners (N=244, 4-6th grade, aged 10-12) and their use of English outside of school, i.e. extramural English (Sundqvist 2009). The overall aim of the study is to examine whether there is a relationship between extramural English and achieved learning outcomes in school. Since it is a pilot study, several measuring tools were tried out: (a) a questionnaire to measure extramural English, motivation, and background variables, (b) a language diary to measure involvement in various extramural English activities as well as extramural activities in other languages, and (c) a written vocabulary test to measure the size of English vocabulary. In our paper, we focus on the results of the evaluation of the vocabulary test and on the analysis of learners scores on that particular test. The test was taken by 52 learners in 5th grade and included test items from the levels tests (Nation 2001; Laufer and Nation 1999) available at http://www.lextutor.ca/. The test we designed includes three parts: (A) Recognition (1,000 word level; receptive vocabulary), (B) Recognition (2,000 level; receptive vocabulary), and (C) Production (2,000 level; productive vocabulary). The mean was close to 19 points out of 37. A comparison of the mean scores on the separate parts of the test indicates that Part A was the easiest one and Part C the most difficult. Moreover, the boys had a significantly higher mean score (21) than the girls (17; p < .05). In our analysis, we examine in detail which words cause learners problems and which do not. Furthermore, we discuss the gender difference in light of the fact that previous research has shown that boys to a larger extent than girls benefit from their engagement in extramural English in terms of incidental vocabulary acquisition (Sylvén 2004/2010, Sundqvist 2009). ReferencesLaufer, B., & Nation, P. (1999). A vocabulary-size test of controlled productive ability. Language Testing, 16(1), 33-51.Nation, P. (2001b). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Sundqvist, P. (2009). Extramural English matters: Out-of-school English and its impact on Swedish ninth graders' oral proficiency and vocabulary. PhD, Karlstad University Studies (2009:55), Karlstad. Sylvén, L. K. (2004/2010). Teaching in English or English teaching? On the effects of content and language integrated learning on Swedish learners' incidental vocabulary acquisition. PhD, Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis, Gothenburg.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

second language acquisition

vocabulary

test

assessment

extramural English

informal learning

vokabulär

bedömning

engelska

främmandespråksinlärning

Educational Work

Subject Didactics

Other research relevant to Teachers Education

English

Engelska

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

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