Effect of Word-Focused Activity on Reading and Learning of L2 Vocabulary: A Self-Paced Reading Study

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Effect of Word-Focused Activity on Reading and Learning of L2 Vocabulary: A Self-Paced Reading Study
Language: English
Authors: Hyeonah Kang, Janet Nicol (ORCID 0000-0001-5528-1266)
Source: Vocabulary Learning and Instruction. 2025 14(1).
Availability: Castledown Publishers. Ground Level, 470 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia. Tel: +61-3-7003-8355; e-mail: contact@castledown.com; Web site: https://www.castledown.com/journals/vli
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), College Students, Vocabulary Development, Learning Activities, Reading Habits, Pacing, Independent Reading
Geographic Terms: South Korea
ISSN: 2981-9954
Abstract: Many researchers suggest that text-reading should be followed by an activity that requires learners to use the new vocabulary, before they read the text again. This article demonstrates the benefits of post-reading word-focused activity on vocabulary learning in an environment when there is no instructor support, particularly for second language (L2) high-intermediate learners compared with monolingual native speakers. But how exactly does this help? Does the post-reading activity make learners aware of gaps in their knowledge of the new vocabulary? If it does, this may lead them to pay more attention to those words in a subsequent reading, ultimately resulting in vocabulary uptake. To address this question, the current study employed a self-paced reading task to examine the reading behaviors during the rereading of a text following a word-focused activity. The results suggested a potential benefit of engaging with target items during the word-focused activity for retaining the novel word's meaning (p = 0.06). However, this word-focused activity did not result in increased attention to reading target items during the rereading task.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1483014
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Many researchers suggest that text-reading should be followed by an activity that requires learners to use the new vocabulary, before they read the text again. This article demonstrates the benefits of post-reading word-focused activity on vocabulary learning in an environment when there is no instructor support, particularly for second language (L2) high-intermediate learners compared with monolingual native speakers. But how exactly does this help? Does the post-reading activity make learners aware of gaps in their knowledge of the new vocabulary? If it does, this may lead them to pay more attention to those words in a subsequent reading, ultimately resulting in vocabulary uptake. To address this question, the current study employed a self-paced reading task to examine the reading behaviors during the rereading of a text following a word-focused activity. The results suggested a potential benefit of engaging with target items during the word-focused activity for retaining the novel word's meaning (p = 0.06). However, this word-focused activity did not result in increased attention to reading target items during the rereading task.
ISSN:2981-9954