Developing Spiral Vocabulary Teaching Model: A Communicative and Social Constructivist-Language Instruction Perspective

Abstract

The aim of this research is to create a practical model for spiral vocabulary teaching through communicative and social-constructivist approach in order to improve learners’ vocabulary learning, and to deal with the problems related to vocabulary teaching. The research was carried out within the framework of a vocational English course involving third-grade students enrolled in a tourism and hotel management school. The specific spiral teaching model which lasted eight weeks and consisted of various communicative activities was originally developed and adapted to the course syllabus by the researcher. Furthermore, an achievement test focusing on vocabulary components outlined in the syllabus was developed. This test served as a pre-test for both the control and experimental groups. Subsequently, the instructional model was implemented for eight weeks with the experimental group, while the control group followed the conventional syllabus utilizing the coursebook. Following the intervention period, the achievement test was administered again to both groups as a post-test, and the results were subjected to statistical analysis for comparison. Additionally, after the implementation, a feedback form with open-ended questions was distributed to the students in the experimental group to gather their opinions and suggestions regarding the instructional model. Based on the results, it could be suggested that the specific spiral vocabulary teaching model developed for this research was efficient in teaching vocabulary items and that it could be adapted to the vocabulary teaching in teaching English as a foreign language.

Keywords

• Teaching English as a foreign language
• Vocabulary Teaching
• Spiral Vocabulary Teaching Model

References

1. Abdulrahman, T. R., & Basalama, N. (2019). Promoting students’ motivation in learning English vocabulary through a collaborative video project. Celt: A Journal of Culture, English Language Teaching & Literature, 19(1), 107.
2. Al Mubarak, A,A. (2017). Challenges of employing different strategies to learn vocabulary in ESL contexts : A closer look at Al Imam Al Mahdi University-Sudan. 2(1), 1–17.
3. Akar, N. (2010). Teaching vocabulary: bridging the gap between theory and practice. Ankara: EDM. Alqahtani, M. (2015). The importance of vocabulary in language learning and how to be taught. International Journal of Teaching and Education, 3(3), 21 - 34.
4. Alizadeh, I. (2016). Vocabulary teaching techniques: A review of common practices. International Journal of Research in English Education, 1(1), 22-30.
5. Barcroft, J. (2004). Second language vocabulary acquisition: A lexical input processing approach. Foreign Language Annals, 37(2), 200-208.
6. Barcroft, J., Schmitt, N., & Sunderman, G. (2011). Lexis. In J. Simpson (Ed.), The routledge handbook of applied linguistics (pp. 571-583). Abingdon / New York: Routledge.
7. Bruner, J. (1960). The Process of education. Cambridge: Harvard University.
8. Clark, W. M., DiBiasio, D.,& Dixon, A. G. (2000).A Project – based spiral curriculum for chemical engineering. A declaration from U.S. Department of Education.

9. Cook, V. (1992). Second Language Learning and Language Teaching. London: Longman
10. Creswell J. W., & Plano Clark V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage. Publications.
11. Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. Oxford: Oxford University.
12. Folse, K. K., (2008). Six vocabulary activities for the english language classroom. English Teaching Forum. 46(3), 12-21.
13. Harden, R. M., & Stamper, N. (1999). What is a spiral curriculum?.Medical Teacher, 21(2), 141 – 143.
14. Harmer, J. (2007).The practice of English language teaching (4th Ed.). Harlow, Essex: Pearson Educated.
15. Hiebert, E. H., & Kamil, M. L. (2005). Teaching and learning vocabulary bringing research to practice. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
16. Howatt, A. (1974). The background to course design. In Allen and Corder (Eds.), Techniques in applied linguistics (pp. 1-23) Vol.3. Oxford: OUP.
17. Hymes, D. (1967). The Anthropology of Communication in Dance (ed) Human Communication Theory: Original Essays. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
18. Hymes, D. (1972). Competence and performance in linguistic theory. London: Academic.
19. Iman, J. A. (2009). The influence of direct vocabulary instruction in reading proficiency in kindergarten and first grade. University of La Verne.
20. Kacani, L., & Cyfeku, J. (2015). Developing EFL vocabulary through speaking and listening activities. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. 4(3), 390-394.
21. Kaya, K. (2016). Impact of games on teaching vocabulary: A case study with sixth grade Turkish students. MA Thesis, Çağ University.
22. Knight, P. T. (2001). Complexity and curriculum: A process approach to curriculum-making.Teaching in Higher Education, 6(3), 369-381.
23. Larsen-Freeman, D. (2000). Techniques and principles in language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University. Linse, C. T. (2005). Practical English language teaching: Young learners (D. Nunan, Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
24. Martin, M. (1978). The Application of Spiraling to the Teaching of Grammar. TESOL Quarterly, 12(2), 151-161.
25. McCarthy, M. (1990).Language teaching: A scheme for teacher education. Oxford: Oxford University.
26. McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (2013).Vocabulary and language teaching. U.S.A.: Routledge.
27. Miles, M. B.,&Huberman, A. M. (1994).Qualitative data analysis. (2nded.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
28. Mitchell, H., & Myles, F. (1988).Second language learning theories. London: Arnold.
29. Morgan, J., & Rinvolucri, M. (2004). Vocabulary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
30. Nation, I.S.P. (Interviewed by N. Schmitt) (1995). The word on words: an interview with Paul Nation. Language Teacher, 19, 2: 5-7.
31. Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
32. Nation, I. S. P. (2005). Teaching vocabulary. Asian EFL Journal, 7(3), 47-54.
33. Nation, I. S. P. (2013). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
34. Nguyen, T. H. T., & Khuat, N. T. T. (2003). Learning vocabulary through games. Asian EFL Journal, 5(4), 1829–1841.
35. Oljira, D. (2017). A Study on Problems of Vocabulary Teaching Techniques English Teachers Use in Holeta Primary Schools : Grade Seven in Focus. 6(6), 497–505.
36. Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage publications.
37. Pilgrim, J. L. (2000).A study of vocabulary instruction with fourth grade students participating in an individualized reading program.Phd Dissertation. University Of North Texas, USA.
38. Porter, L. P. (1992). An investigation of the effectiveness of two prior knowledge-based vocabulary teaching strategies on vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension in an advanced foreign language class. Phd Dissertation. Kent State University, the U.S.A.
39. Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2001). Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
40. Savignon, S. J. (2001). Communicative language teaching for the twenty-first century. Teaching English as a second or foreign language, 3, 13-28.
41. Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
42. Stahl, S. (2005). Four problems with teaching word meanings (and what to do to make vocabulary an integral part of instruction). In Hiebert E. and. Kamil M (eds.), Teaching and learning vocabulary: bringing research to practice. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
43. Susanto. A. (2016). How English learner suceeded in difficult circumstances. Jurnal Pendidian UNSIKA, 4(2), pp. 135-148.
44. Swan, M., & Walter, C. (1984).The Cambridge English Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
45. Thornbury, S. (2002). How to teach vocabulary. Edinburgh: Pearson Education.
46. Ur, Penny. (2012). A course in language teaching practice and theory. Cambridge University Press.
47. Wallace, M. (1982).Teaching vocabulary. London: Heinemann Educational Books.
48. Watkins, P. (2005). Learning to Teach English. England: Delta publishing.
49. Wilkins, D.A. (1972).Linguistics and language teaching. London: Edward Arnold.
50. Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mindin society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge: Harvard University.
51. Yang, L.,& Wilson, K. (2006). Second language classroom reading: A social constructivist approach. The Reading Matrix, 6(3), 364-372.
52. Zhang, X. (2016). Vocabulary acquisition: What does it mean to know a word? Studies in English Language Teaching, 4(1), 44-5.