The Effect of Semantic and Thematic Lists on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Retention: Self-regulatory Behaviors Compared

Year 2013, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 193 - 208, 30.12.2013

Masoumeh Mehregan

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the long-term and short-term effects of semantic and thematic clustering on Iranian learners’ vocabulary acquisition. The study was also an attempt to evaluate the effects of these clustering types on learners’ self-regulatory behaviors. Two groups of language learners were asked to study two word lists, one semantic (N=30) and the other thematic (N=30) clusters. After the participants finished studying the word lists that contained the definition of words and Persian equivalents, the word lists were collected and then they were given a list of the same words without the Persian equivalents. The participants were asked to provide the equivalents right after collecting the papers to consider short-term effects and also two weeks later to consider long-term effects. Results of statistical analyses showed that participants recalled the words from the thematic list as well as from the semantic list. Moreover, their self-regulatory attitudes towards the clustering types remained the same

Keywords

Vocabulary acquisition, semantic clustering, thematic clustering, self-regulation

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