Understanding the Selection of Vocabulary Learning Strategies: The Impact of the Language Teaching Approach

Abstract

This paper presents a study on how the selection of vocabulary learning strategies is affected by the kind of instructional programme followed. A total of one hundred thirty-eight secondary-school learners – seventy-two CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and fifty-six mainstream EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners – took part in the study. They were asked to respond a vocabulary learning strategies questionnaire. The data were examined looking into how the use of strategies differed when comparing CLIL and EFL learners. Results permitted to develop two clear learner profiles that were compared. These findings will be discussed in relation to their possible implications for vocabulary development.

Keywords

• vocabulary learning strategies
• content and language integrated learning
• english as a foreign language
• secondary-school learners