Chapter published in:
Approaches to Learning, Testing and Researching L2 VocabularyEdited by Stuart Webb
[Benjamins Current Topics 109] 2020
► pp. 143–167
The effect of out-of-class exposure to English language media on learners’ vocabulary knowledge
Elke Peters | KU Leuven
The aim of this study is to investigate (1) how often Flemish English-as-a-foreign language learners are exposed to English language media outside of the classroom, (2) whether current out-of-class exposure to English language media is related to learners’ vocabulary knowledge, and (3) whether length of instruction (three or six years), gender, and out-of-class exposure to English language media affect Flemish learners’ vocabulary. Data were collected with 79 English-as-a-foreign language learners. They were administered a frequency-based vocabulary test and a questionnaire. The findings of this study show that Flemish English-as-a-foreign language learners are frequently exposed to English language media. The results also indicate a positive relationship between learners’ vocabulary knowledge and exposure to non-subtitled TV programs and movies, the Internet, and written print (books, magazines). Finally, both length of instruction and current out-of-class exposure to English language media had an effect on learners’ vocabulary knowledge, but out-of-class exposure had a larger effect than length of instruction.
Keywords: out-of-class exposure, vocabulary, English, viewing
Published online: 06 August 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/bct.109.itl.00010.pet
https://doi.org/10.1075/bct.109.itl.00010.pet
References
References
Briggs, J. G.
Brown, R., Waring, R., & Donkaewbua, S.
Cobb, T.
Coxhead, A., & Bytheway, J.
Davies, M.
González Fernández, B., & Schmitt, N.
Horst, M.
Housen, A. Janssens, & Pierrard, M.
Kuppens, A. H.
Larson-Hall, J.
Laufer, B., & Levitzky-Aviad, T.
Laufer, B., & McLean, S.
Laufer, B., & Ravenhorst-Kalovski, G.
Lin, P. M. S. & Siyanova-Chanturia, A.
Lindgren, E., & Muñoz, C.
McNamara, T., & Roever, C.
Muñoz, C.
Nation, P.
Noreillie, A. -S., Kestemont, B., Heylen, K., Desmet, P., & Peters, E.
Pellicer-Sánchez, A., & Schmitt, N.
Peters, E. & Webb, S.
Peters, E., Velghe, T., Van Rompaey, T.
(2015, May). A post-entry English and French vocabulary size for Flemish learners. Paper presented at EALTA. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pigada, M., & Schmitt, N.
Plonsky, L.
Plonsky, L., & Oswald, F. L.
Rodgers, M. P. H.
Rodgers, M. P. H., & Webb, S.
Schmitt, N. & Redwood, S.
Sockett, G. & Kusyk, M.
Stæhr, L. S.
Sundqvist, P., & Sylvén, L. K.
Sundqvist, P., & Wikström, P.
Sylvén, L. K., & Sundqvist, P.
van Zeeland, H., & Schmitt, N.
Verspoor, M. H., de Bot, K., & van Rein, E.
Webb, S.
Webb, S., & Chang, A. C. -S.
Webb, S., & Chang, A. C. S.
Webb, S., & Rodgers, M. P. H.
(2009a) Vocabulary demands of television programs. Language Learning, 59(2), 335–366. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9922.2009.00509.x/full