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Part of
Approaches to Learning, Testing and Researching L2 Vocabulary
Edited 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

| 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
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Reading
    • 2.2TV viewing
    • 2.3Playing computer games, the Internet, and social media
  • 3.Aim
  • 4.Method
    • 4.1Participants
    • 4.2Test instruments
      • 4.2.1Vocabulary test
      • 4.2.2Questionnaire
    • 4.3Data analysis
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1Vocabulary test
    • 5.2Research question 1
    • 5.3Research question 2
    • 5.4Research question 3
  • 6.Discussion
    • 6.1Learners’ exposure to English language input outside of the classroom
    • 6.2The relationship between out-of-class exposure and learners’ vocabulary knowledge
    • 6.3Factors affecting learners’ vocabulary knowledge
    • 6.4Limitations and suggestions for future research
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 6 August 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/bct.109.itl.00010.pet
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