Improving Vocabulary Learning Strategies

Abstract

Vocabulary is one of the most important and unconstrained skills in learning any new language. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to discover the vocabulary learning strategies that first-year EFL students at Ibn Khaldoun University use when studying English as a foreign language. It also investigates which vocabulary learning strategies are effective for them, as well as if age and gender influence their learning. To confirm the study hypotheses that students use different learning strategies and there are more effective ones than others, also age and gender affect their learning, the researchers used a quantitative method. An online survey was distributed to gather the relevant information from Tiaret University's first-year English students. Based on the data that was collected and analysed, the results obtained showed that first-year students use a combination of all strategies, however the direct strategies are more frequently used than the indirect ones, and that gender and age have a significant impact on learning, especially in learning foreign languages. Depending on the findings obtained from analysing the questionnaire, a number of recommendations offered in order to help students learn new words easily.