Teaching Vocabulary through Games: A Comparative Study of 4th and 7th Grades

Abstract

Having the essential role of games in vocabulary teaching in mind, the study focused on the effectiveness of games. Thus, the present study aimed to find out whether there is a difference between the 4th grades and the 7th grades in terms of teaching vocabulary through games. A comparative research design was applied within the study. Pre- tests, post- tests, course-books, workbooks, games and worksheets were used as instruments. The experimental groups were taught through games and the control groups were taught through current-curriculum methods. After the implementation process, the pre and post-tests' scores were calculated. According to the results, vocabulary instruction through games was found to be more efficient than the current-curriculum methods for the 4th grades, no significant difference was found within the groups of the 7th grades, and using games to teach vocabulary in the 4th grades was found to be more effective compared to using games to teach vocabulary in the 7th grades. Studying the previous research, it has been seen that there is no comparison between primary and secondary school students' vocabulary learning levels through games. Therefore, the results of the study are expected to shed light on this lack in the field.

Keywords

• Vocabulary teaching,Games in vocabulary teaching,Young learners,Adolescent learners

References

1. Ajibade, Y.& Ndububa, K. (2008). Effects of word games, culturally relevant songs, and stories on students’ motivation in a Nigerian English language class. TESL Canada Journal, 25(2), 27-48. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ806790
2. Allen,V. F. (1983). Techniques in teaching vocabulary. Oxford University Press
3. Asfuroğlu, S. (2013). The attitudes of very young learners towards the use of games in language classes. (Master’s thesis, Çağ University, Mersin, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
4. Ashraf, H., Motlagh, F. G. , Salami, M. (2014). The impact of online games on learning English vocabulary by Iranian (low intermediate) efl learners. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 286-291. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.418
5. Aslanabadi, H. (2013). The effect of games on improvement of Iranian EFL vocabulary knowledge in kindergartens. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities, 6(1), 186-195. Retrieved from http://docplayer.net/30175694-The-effect-of-games-on-improvement-of-iranian-efl-vocabulary-knowledge-in-kindergartens.html
6. Bakhsh, S. A. (2016). Using games as a tool in teaching vocabulary to young learners. English Language Teaching, 9(7), 120-128. Doi: 10.5539/elt.v9n7p120 Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1101751.pdf
7. Blachowicz, C. & Fisher, P. J. (2015). Teaching vocabulary in all classrooms (5th Edition). Pearson Education.
8. Cameron, L. (2002). Teaching language to young learners. Cambridge University Press.

9. Carter, R. (1998). Vocabulary: applied linguistic perspectives (2nd edition). London, UK: Routhledge.
10. Chen, I.-J.(2005). Using games to promote communicative skills in language learning. The Internet TESL Journal, 11(2). Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Chen Games.html
11. Chou, M. (2012). Assessing English vocabulary and enhancing young English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ motivation through games, songs, and stories. International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education, 42(3). Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004279.2012.680899?scroll=top&need
12. Cimcim, E. (2008). Teaching English to primary school students through games. (Master’s thesis, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
13. Coady, J., & Huckin, T. (1997). Second language vocabulary acquisition: a rational for pedagogy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
14. Çiftçi, Ş. S. (2010). The effect of language games on learning irregular past tense verbs: a study with 9th grade Turkish students. (Master’s thesis, Eskişehir Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
15. Decarrico, J. S. (2001). Vocabulary learning and teaching. In M. Celce-Murcia (Ed.), Teaching English as a second or foreign language (3rd ed.) (p. 285). Boston: Heinle & Heinle. Retrieved from https://tr.scribd.com/document/145622949/Vocabulary-Learning-and- Teaching
16. Derakhslan, A. & Khatir, E. D. (2015). The effects of using games on English vocabulary learning. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research 2(3), 39-47. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/774c/2cae6b8aefbe2fdcf88c151d0441bebba857.pdf
17. Dervişoğulları, N.(2008). Yabancı dil olarak Türkçe öğretilen sınıflarda oyunlarla sözcük öğretimi / word teaching through playing games in Turkish teaching classes. (Master’s thesis, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
18. Ersöz, A. (2000). Six games for the efl/esl classroom. The Internet TESL Journal, 6(6). Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Ersoz-Games.html
19. Fırat, M. (2007). Yabancı dil öğretiminde oyunun kullanımı. (Master’s thesis, Atatürk Üniversitesi, Erzurum, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
20. Griva, E.& Semoglou, K.& Geladari, A. (2010). Early foreign language learning: implementation of a project in a game –based context. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 (2010), 3700–3705. Doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.575. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042810006154
21. Gülsoy, H.(2013). Teaching vocabulary to sixth graders through games. (Master’s thesis, Çağ University,Mersin, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
22. Hadfield, J.(1990). Intermediate communication games. Hong Kong: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.
23. Jalali, S. & Dousti, M. (2012). Vocabulary and grammar gain through computer educational games. GEMA Online™ Journal of Language Studies, 12(4), 1077-1088. Retrieved from http://ejournal.ukm.my/gema/article/view/1570/1357
24. Kim, L. S. (1995). Creative games for the language class. International conference of the Malaysian English LanguageTeachers's Association on May 24-27, 1993, in Kuala Lumpur. 33(1), 35. Retrieved from https://tr.scribd.com/document/99650330/Vol-33-No-1-LEE-SU-KIM
25. Lee,W. R.(1965). Language teaching games and contests. Oxford University Press, London.
26. Lengeling, M. M. & Malarcher, C. (1997). Index cards: a natural resource for teachers. 35(4), October - December 1997 Page 42. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ595064
27. Masri, D. A. A. & Najar, M.M. Al. (2014). The effect of using word games on primary stage students achievement in English language vocabulary in Jordan. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(9), 144-152. Retrieved from http://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_4_No_9_September_2014/17.pdf
28. McCarthy, M. (1990). Vocabulary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
29. Özkiraz. K. (2015). The role of games in teaching vocabulary to fifth graders. (Master’s thesis, Çağ University, Mersin, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
30. Öztürk, P. (2004). An experimental study on the effect of games on young adults' success in learning English grammar / oyunların İngilizce dilbilgisi öğretiminde yetişkinler üzerindeki etkisi üzerine deneysel bir çalışma. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi, Çanakkale.
31. Pirrie, L. A. (2017). Teaching and learning vocabulary through games and translation in the EFL classroom: a case study. (Master’s thesis, Unıversitat De Les Illes Balears, Spain).Retrieved from http://dspace.uib.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11201/147071/tfm_201617_MFPR_lap572_1047.pdf?sequence=1
32. Reilly, V.& Ward, S. M. (2000). Very young learners. Oxford University Press.
33. Richards, J. C. (1985). The context of language teaching. United States of America: Cambridge University Press.
34. Rixon, S. (1981). How to use games in language teaching. London: Macmillan Publisher Ltd.
35. Scrivener, J. (1994). The teacher development series learning teaching. Oxford: Macmillan Publishers Limited.
36. Şenergüç, G.(2007). How games work on adults in teaching vocabulary / yetişkinlere kelime öğretiminde oyunların kullanımı. (Master’s thesis, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
37. Şenol, M. (2007). Teaching vocabulary to secondary school students through games. (Master’s thesis, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/
38. Thornbury, S. (2004). How to teach vocabulary. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
39. Tuan, L. T. (2012). Vocabulary recollection through games. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2(2), 257-264. Doi:10.4304/tpls.2.2.257-264. Retrieved from http://www.academypublication.com/issues/past/tpls/vol02/02/08.pdf
40. Ur, P. (1996). A course in language teaching practice and theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
41. Ur, P. (2012). A course in language teaching practice and theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
42. Wallace, M. J. (1982). Teaching vocabulary. London: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd. Cambridge University Press.
43. Wang, Y.- J.& Shang, H.-F.& Briody, P. (2011). Investigating the impact of using games in teaching children English. International Journal of Learning and Development, 1(1), 127-141. doi:10.5296/ijld.v1i1.1118.
44. Wright, A. & Betteridge, D. & Buckby, M. (1984). Games for language learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://tr.scribd.com/doc/48611304/Games-for-Language-Learning
45. Yip, F.W. M. & Kwan, A. C.M. (2007). Online vocabulary games as a tool for teaching and learning English vocabulary. Educational Media International, 43 (3) : Media innovations in education: input and outcome in the new society, 233-249. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09523980600641445