TEACHING EFL VOCABULARY TO YOUNG DIGITAL NATIVES: A STUDY WITH TURKISH 5TH GRADE EFL LEARNERS

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Published: Jan 10, 2018

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Özlem Utku
Bayburt University
Emrah Dolgunsöz
Bayburt University

Abstract

Inspired by the recent studies on the topics of teaching vocabulary to young learners through digital games (Aghlara & Tamjid, 2011; Cellat, 2008; Chou, 2014; Jang, 2014; Yip & Kwan, 2006), the current study aimed to examine the effect of online vocabulary games on teaching new words to young learners in EFL. For this aim, 46 Turkish 5th grade EFL students in a state school were assigned into control and experimental groups. Both groups studied 22 words in 6 instructional sessions conducted in 6 subsequent weeks in the second semester of 2016-2017 academic year. Throughout this period, the data was collected via recognition- production tests and semi-structured interviews. The results of the recognition and production tests showed that experimental group outperformed the control group in terms of vocabulary gains. The results of the semi-structured interviews also supported the quantitative results indicating that online vocabulary games increased motivation of the students. Additionally, it was observed that young learners were amused by digital games and were willing to learn more via them.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2018)
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Articles

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Author Biographies

Özlem Utku, Bayburt University

Özlem Utku is a research assistant at Bayburt University, Department of ELT. She was graduated from Uludağ University, Department of ELT. Currently, she holds her Master of Arts degree at Anadolu University, ELT Department.

Emrah Dolgunsöz, Bayburt University

Emrah Dolgunsöz is an assistant professor at Bayburt University, Department of ELT. He is also head of Foreign Languages Education Department of Bayburt University, Faculty of Education. He has received his MA and PhD from Hacettepe University. His main research areas are psycholinguistics and eye-tracking. 

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