Research Article

“Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching

Volume: 1 Number: 1 June 29, 2021
TR EN

“Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching

Abstract

Vocabulary is often viewed as a critical tool for language learners in mastering English language. Concerning vocabulary teaching in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms, EFL teachers’ viewpoints and learning backgrounds may play a vital role in their practices. Along this view, this paper aims to deeply explore the perspectives, prior language learning experiences and actual classroom practices of three experienced EFL teachers with regards to vocabulary teaching in Turkish High Schools. Areas, where practices have conformed with or differed from perspectives about vocabulary teaching in EFL teachers' actual classroom practices have been examined and discussed. The findings suggest that teachers have a strong belief in the necessity and importance of vocabulary teaching and learning. In addition, all three teachers did not favor memorization of the unknown, instead, they put emphasis on the usage of the new vocabulary. They also believed that a teacher should stand as a role model in directing the students to find their own ways to develop their vocabulary. Even though the teachers in this study had different educational backgrounds, they met in common grounds regarding the aim of teaching unknown words to their students. The most striking common point in their prior language learning experiences was the role of their EFL teachers in learning vocabulary. Furthermore, for each one, the responses in the interviews, the actions observed in the classrooms as well as what has been written on the reflective journals seem to match well together by completing one another concerning the findings.

Keywords

References

  1. Alqahtani, M. (2015). The importance of vocabulary in language learning and how to be taught. International Journal of Teaching and Education, III(3), 21-34. https://www.doi.org/10.20472/te.2015.3.3.002 Berne, J. I., & Blachowicz, C. L. (2008). What reading teachers say about vocabulary instruction: Voices from the classroom. The Reading Teacher, 62(4), 314–323. https://www.doi.org/10.1598/rt.62.4.4 Borg, S. (2003). Teacher cognition in language teaching: A review of research on what language teachers think, know, believe, and do. Language Teaching, 36(2), 81–109. https://www.doi.org/10.1017/s0261444803001903 Borg, S. (2006). The distinctive characteristics of foreign language teachers. Language Teaching Research, 10(1), 3–31. https://www.doi.org/10.1191/1362168806lr182oa Chung, E. (2018). Revisiting second language vocabulary teaching: Insights from Hong Kong in-service teachers. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 27(6), 499–508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-018-0412-3 Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Boston: Pearson. Farrell, T. S. C., & Lim, P.C.P. (2005). Conceptions of grammar teaching: A case study of teachers’ beliefs and classroom practices. TESL-EJ, 9(2), 1-13. https://teslej.org/pdf/ej34/a9.pdf Gerami, M. R., & Noordin, N. B. (2013). Teacher cognition in foreign language vocabulary teaching: A study of Iranian high school EFL teachers. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 3(9), 1531-1545. https://doi.org/10.4304/tpls.3.9.1531-1545 Hermagustiana, I., Hamra, A., Rahman, A. Q., & Salija, K. (2017). Reflection of teacher cognition in EFL vocabulary instructional practices in Indonesia. International Journal of English Linguistics, 7(5), 34-45. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v7n5p34 Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Mirzaie, S., Hemmati, F., & Kiasi, M. A. (2018). Investigating Iranian English Language teachers’ practices and perceptions of vocabulary teaching. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 8(1), 52-60. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0801.07 Muhamad, M., & Kiely, R. (2018). Understanding teachers’ pedagogical knowledge in ESL vocabulary teaching. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 7(1), 36-47. https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v7i1.1328 Nguyen, C. D. (2017). Connections between learning and teaching: EFL teachers’ reflective practice. Pedagogies: An International Journal, 12(3), 237–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554480x.2017.1356725 Phipps, S., & Borg, S. (2009). Exploring tensions between teachers’ grammar teaching beliefs and practices. System, 37(3), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2009.03.002 Richards, J. C., Gallo, P. B., & Renandya, W. A. (2001). Exploring teachers’ beliefs and the processes of change. The PAC Journal, 1(1), 41-58. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253158178_Exploring_Teachers'_Beliefs_and_t he_Processes_of_Change Schmitt, N. (2008). Review article: Instructed second language vocabulary learning. Language Teaching Research. 12 (3), 329-363. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168808089921 Takač, V. P., & Singleton, D. (2008). Vocabulary learning strategies and foreign language acquisition. Canada: Multilingual Matters Ltd.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Language Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 29, 2021

Submission Date

March 30, 2021

Acceptance Date

May 8, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 1 Number: 1

APA
Dombaycı, M. (2021). “Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching. World Language Studies, 1(1), 43-63. https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG
AMA
1.Dombaycı M. “Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching. World Language Studies. 2021;1(1):43-63. https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG
Chicago
Dombaycı, Merve. 2021. “‘Use It Or Lose It!’ A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching”. World Language Studies 1 (1): 43-63. https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG.
EndNote
Dombaycı M (June 1, 2021) “Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching. World Language Studies 1 1 43–63.
IEEE
[1]M. Dombaycı, “‘Use It Or Lose It!’ A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching”, World Language Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 43–63, June 2021, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG
ISNAD
Dombaycı, Merve. “‘Use It Or Lose It!’ A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching”. World Language Studies 1/1 (June 1, 2021): 43-63. https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG.
JAMA
1.Dombaycı M. “Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching. World Language Studies. 2021;1:43–63.
MLA
Dombaycı, Merve. “‘Use It Or Lose It!’ A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching”. World Language Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, June 2021, pp. 43-63, https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG.
Vancouver
1.Merve Dombaycı. “Use It Or Lose It!” A Qualitative Analysis Of Three Turkish Efl Teachers’ Perspectives, Prior Learning Experiences And Actual Teaching Practices Regarding Vocabulary Teaching. World Language Studies [Internet]. 2021 Jun. 1;1(1):43-6. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA34RZ42WG