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Presenter
Asst. Prof. Dr. Brikena Xhaferi
South East European University,
Tetova
Macedonia

Title
Empirical Research into vocabulary learning strategies used by students at South East European University in Macedonia: Methods, Findings and  Future recommendations

Abstract

The research on vocabulary learning strategies is very rare in Macedonia despite the fact that vocabulary is crucial in learning languages. Students face difficulties in understanding and learning new English words when they read academic texts in English. It is known that individuals differ in learning and learner strategies influence learning a lot. To help students learn vocabulary more effectively, I conducted an empirical study. This study aimed to investigate the vocabulary learning strategies used by students who study at South East European University in Tetova (Macedonia). The study focuses at two stages of the vocabulary learning; 1) when the students encounter the unknown word for the first time and discovery strategies they use, and 2) which retention strategies they use to remember the meaning of these unknown words.

The study included 200 participants and it uses three methods: questionnaire, semi-structured –interviews and think-aloud procedure. The study results showed that these students use  Determination and social strategies to discover the meaning of unknown words, on the other hand, the most-used retention strategies are: Memory and cognitive strategies.

The implication drawn from this study is that a strategy program would definitely be beneficial for these learners.

Keywords:- Vocabulary learning strategies, Second language acquisition, strategy use, teaching English as a foreign language