Vocabulary Learning Strategies

Words are considered as the 'building blocks' of a language. Learning vocabulary is a fundamental step of learning a foreign language/second language especially in the initial phases of the L2 learning. Currently, there has been an increasing focus on second language/foreign language vocabulary learning and vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs). More attention has been given to vocabulary because, without doubt, learning an L2 vocabulary is far more important than anything else in developing the knowledge of that language. However, vocabulary learning and teaching have been neglected for decades. Learners did not pay substantial attention to vocabulary and teachers have taught a great deal of grammar topics rather than vocabulary. Students, when they travel, do not carry grammar books but dictionaries. Therefore, the aim of the study was twofold: firstly to reveal the most and least frequently used VLSs by students; secondly to investigate the role of gender in the use of these strategies. Two research methods were used to achieve the aims of the study; a questionnaire survey and an interview session.