The effect of thematic clustering on students’ studying vocabulary recognition and production a single subject study

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF LAW FACULTY OF LEGAL LANGUAGES THE EFFECT OF THEMATIC CLUSTERING ON STUDENTS’ STUDYING VOCABULARY RECOGNITION AND PRODUCTION: A SINGLE-SUBJECT STUDY A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Submitted by Ngo Nhat Thanh Tra Supervised by Ms Le Nguyen Thao Thy (MA.) Ho Chi Minh City, June 21st, 2023 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I certify that this thesis entitled “The effect of thematic clustering on students’ studying vocabulary recognition and production: a single-subject study” is my own work Except where reference is made in the text of the thesis, this thesis does not contain material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main text of the thesis This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis Ho Chi Minh City, June 21st, 2023 Ngo Nhat Thanh Tra ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation and deeply-felt words to all those concerned in my thesis I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for my academic supervisor, Ms Le Nguyen Thao Thy for her endless support and care about my studies throughout the years I have spent at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law Her informative comments and helpful instructions were a great support for me to complete this thesis My thanks and appreciations go to WESET English Center for their agreement and non-stop support for me to complete this work Also, my gratitude and appreciation go to my IELTS supervisor: Mr To Minh Dat, my CE supervisors: Mr Nguyen Hoang Thanh and Ms Dang Nguyen Nha Uyen at WESET English Center for their supportive and willingness to help me achieve my goals My sincere thanks go to my dear students at WESET English Center for their voluntariness and help in collecting the data for this study, without them it would be impossible to complete this thesis iii ABSTRACT Together with the contrast between interference hypothesis and distinctiveness hypothesis, the decision of whether to teach vocabulary using semantic clustering, thematic clustering or other types of word clustering presents as a controversial matter Though previous studies have already examined this issue on several perspectives, little or no evidence approached from the viewpoint of non-native speakers of English Therefore, supporting the distinctiveness hypothesis, the study compares the effect of studying thematic clustering and unrelated clustering vocabulary on memory recognition and retention Utilizing experiment research, a single-subject study was conducted on participants throughout the course of studying, testing and interviews The results emphasized the effectiveness of thematic clustering on vocabulary recognition and production, whilst confirming the participants’ preference and positive attitudes toward this type of clustering The study, thus, retained the distinctiveness hypothesis effect of presenting and practicing thematically related vocabulary in a non-English speaking classroom environment Keywords: thematic clustering; vocabulary; recognition; retention iv TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III ABSTRACT IV TABLE OF CONTENTS V LIST OF FIGURES VIII LIST OF TABLES IX LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS X CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 RATIONALE OF THE STUDY 1.2 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 1.3 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 1.5 OVERVIEW OF THE THESIS CHAPTERS CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 RELEVANT THEORIES 2.1.1 Thematic clustering 2.1.2 Schemata theory 2.1.3 Distinctiveness hypothesis 2.2 PREVIOUS STUDIES 11 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 17 3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN 17 3.2 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS 19 3.2.1 Vocabulary Item 19 3.2.2 Tests 20 3.2.2.1 Immediate Tests 20 3.2.2.2 Delayed Tests 21 3.2.3 Interviews 21 3.2.3.1 Pre-interviews 21 3.2.3.2 Post-interviews 22 3.2.4 Observations 22 3.3 PARTICIPANTS 22 v 3.4 RESEARCH PROCEDURE 23 3.4.1 Non-treatment and Treatment Period 24 3.4.2 Pre- and Post-interview 24 3.5 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS 25 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 26 4.1 FINDING 26 4.1.1 Tests 26 4.1.1.1 Immediate test results 26 4.1.1.2 Delayed test results 29 4.1.2 Interviews 31 4.1.2.1 Pre-interviews 31 4.1.2.1.1 Students’ normal way of vocabulary learning 31 4.1.2.1.2 Students’ perception about unrelated clustering 32 4.1.2.1.3 Students’ perception about thematic clustering 33 4.1.2.2 Post-interviews 33 4.1.2.2.1 Students’ perception about unrelated clustering 33 4.1.2.2.2 Students’ perception about thematic clustering 35 4.1.2.2.3 Students’ preference and self-evaluation 35 4.1.2.2.4 Students’ suggestion for classroom use 36 4.1.3 General findings 37 4.2 DISCUSSION 38 4.2.1 Studying vocabulary using thematic clustering facilitate students’ vocabulary acquisition 38 4.2.2 Studying vocabulary using thematic clustering facilitate students’ vocabulary recognition and production 39 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 41 5.1 THE HYPOTHESES REVISITED 41 5.2 IMPLICATIONS 41 5.2.1 Theoretical implications 41 5.2.2 Implications for teaching English vocabulary and developing materials 42 5.2.3 Methodological implications 42 5.3 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 42 BIBLIOGRAPHY 44 APPENDICES 57 vi APPENDIX A 57 APPENDIX B 58 APPENDIX C 60 APPENDIX D 67 APPENDIX E 68 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4.1 27 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1 27 Table 4.2 28 Table 4.3 29 Table 4.4 30 Table 4.5 31 Table 4.6 31 ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS EFL: English as a Foreign Language ESL: English as a Second Language L1: First language, native language L2: Second language H1: Hypotheses H2: Hypotheses NH1: Null Hypotheses NH2: Null Hypotheses x Smith, E E., Adams, N E., & Schorr, D (1978) Fact retrieval and the paradox of interference Cognitive Psychology, 10(4), 438-464 https://doi.org/10.1016/00100285(78)90007-5 Stein, B S (1978) Depth of processing reexamined: The effects of the precision of encoding and test appropriateness Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 17, 165-174 Tinkham, T (1993) The effect of semantic clustering on the learning of second language vocabulary System, 21(3), 371-380 Tinkham, T (1997) The effects of semantic and thematic clustering on the learning of second language vocabulary Second Language Research, 13(2), 138-163 Tran, H Q (2013) Figurative idiomatic competence: An analysis of EFL learners in Vietnam Lang Educ Asia, 4, 23–38 Tracey, D H., & Morrow, L M (2006) Lenses on reading: an introduction to theories and models New York: Guilford Press Tagashira, K., Kida, S., & Hoshino, Y (2010) Hot or gelid? The influence of L1 translation familiarity on the interference effects in foreign language vocabulary learning System, 38(3), 412–421 doi:10.1016/j.system.2010.03.015 Underwood, B J (1969) Attributes of memory Psychological Review, 76, 559-573 54 Vu, D V & Peters, E (2021) Vocabulary in English language learning, teaching, and testing in Vietnam: A Review Educ Sci., 11, 563 https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11090563 Vu, D V & Nguyen, N C (2019) An assessment of vocabulary knowledge of Vietnamese EFL learners Proceedings of the 20th English in South-East Asia Conference: Singapore, 6-7 December 2019 National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University: Singapore Walsh, D A., & Jenkins, J J (1973) Effects of orienting tasks on free recall in incidental learning: "Difficulty," "effort," and "process" explanations Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 12, 481-488 Waring, R (1997) The negative effects of learning words in semantic sets: A replication System, 25(2), 261-274 Willis, D (1990) The lexical syllabus London: Collins Waugh, N C, & Norman, D A (1965) Primary memory Psychological Review, 72, 89-104 Zargosh, M., Karbalaei, A., & Afraz, S (2013) The effect of thematic clustering on enhancing monolingual and bilingual EFL learners’ vocabulary acquisition European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2013, 2(2), 109-121 55 Zarei, A A., & Adami, S (2013) The effects of semantic mapping, thematic clustering, and notebook keeping on L2 vocabulary recognition and production Journal on English Language Teaching, 3(2), 17-27 Zarei, A A., & Arasteh, T S (2011) The effects of code-mixing, thematic clustering, and contextualization on L2 vocabulary recognition and production Journal of Language and Culture, 2(6), 96-102 Zoltán, D (2006) Research methods in applied linguistics: quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies Oxford: Oxford University Press 56 APPENDICES Appendix A Declaration and Agreement of Collaboration Ho Chi Minh City, March 1st, 2023 I am Ngo Nhat Thanh Tra, currently an IELTS Teacher of Pre-Intermediate level at Weset English Center As previously reaching approval and agreement by Weset English Center, I hereby given the privileges to conduct research on students learning English at the centre, particularly students of the three classes that I am in charge of: IE-Pre202212246-1-1, IE-Pre202211-246-2-2 and IE-Pre202303-357-1 The research is conducted by prior reaching consent by the students in charge (hereby referred to as Participant) and on the basis of remain separate and independent on the students’ result at the centre All the data collected are used solely for the purpose of conducting my graduation thesis at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, and the students’ information remained confidential thereof The participants hereby understand that they are voluntarily attending the research, and that they will not receive any privileges or indemnities regarding their final results at the centre by attending this research They also understand that all of their personal information will be kept in confidential I hereby committed to understand and be responsible for the above information Ngo Nhat Thanh Tra 57 Appendix B Vocabulary Bank Observing others (Unit 19): impetuous; impulsive; pushy; taciturn; disdainful; gullible; obstinate; unscrupulous; haughty; aloof Language of law (Unit 47): embezzlement; harassment; insider trading; joyriding; perjury; indictable; discretionary; infringe; verdict; abrogate Colour (Unit 68): crimson; turquoise; chestnut; auburn; fluorescent; mousy; mauve; reddish; emerald; amber Difficulties, dilemmas and hitches (Unit 72): stumbling; abstruse; arduous; convoluted; wayward; ordeal; glitch; affliction; tribulation; grueling Permission and prohibition (Unit 75) and Complaining and protesting (Unit 76): accede; acquiesce; assent; condone; endorse; veto; clamp down; sanction; remonstrate; grouse Diet, sport and fitness (Unit 58) and Health and illness (Unit 57): plaque; buffer; offal; banish; gut; artery; stool; ulcer; ail; jaundiced Birth and death (Unit 20): womb; Caesarean section; placenta; uterus; ectopic pregnancy; conceived; fertility drugs; foetus; fallopian tubes; fortitude The plastic arts (Unit 26): philistinism; detractor; Tate Modern; Renaissance; fad; cubist; surrealist; deem; inured to; Impressionism Travel and accommodation (Unit 31): apex; berth; upper deck; restriction; selfcatering; chalet; inn; half board; full board; charter 58 Authorities (Unit 40): landing card; sniffer dog; political asylum; fixed penalty; breathalyser; surveillance; search warrant; traffic wardens; clear custom; refugee History (Unit 44): depose; proclaim; monarchy; laws of succession; predecessor; regent; seize; corrupt; reign; usurp power British politics (Unit 46): legislation; constituent; Institute of Director; Chancellor of the Exchequer; petition; concession; Member of Parliament; assiduously; annual climax; parliament 59 Appendix C Tests Non-Treatment 01 He’s so [1], I wish he would consider things first [2]: stealing money that is in your care or belongs to an organization that you work for [3]: strong deep red [4]: something that prevents free action, progress or movement The Prime Minister had [5] to demands to release secret documents about the recent war [6]: unwanted substance that forms on the surface of the arteries His [7] generosity led him to give away most of his money [8]: making a person feel anxious and unhappy [9]: greenish blue, used about fabrics, paint, sea, etc but not usually eyes 10 [10]: difficult to understand Non-Treatment 02 She’s so [1], it’s typical of her to demand an interview for the new job [2]: illegal buying and selling of shares by someone who has specialist knowledge of a company [3] a deep reddish brown, used about hair and horses [4]: difficult, tiring, needing much effort The Foreign Minister [5] in the plan to restrict imports from certain countries [6]: something/someone that helps protect from harm I thought he was rather [7] when I first met him He hardly spoke [8]: lying under oath [9]: a red-brown colour, usually used about hair 60 10 [10]: unreasonably long and hard to follow Non-Treatment 03 Britain had [1] to a proposal to enlarge the EU [2]: organs from inside animals which are eaten as food (brains, heart, kidneys, liver) She's always been [3] of people who haven't been to college [4]: for which you can be charged as a serious crime that needs a trial by jury [5]: very bright colour [6]: changeable, selfish and/or hard to control The judge [7] the use of reasonable force by the police officers who arrested the man [8]: to make somebody/something go away; to get rid of somebody/something Telephone sales people often take advantage of [9] people 10 [10]: decided according to the judgement of a person in authority about what is necessary in each particular situation; not decided by rules Non-Treatment 04 [1]: a light not very interesting brown, used only about hair [2]: severe experience, which is very difficult, painful or tiring The cabinet has [3] a proposal to change the way universities are funded and managed [4]: tubes that carry food from the stomach You are so [5] and pig-headed! Why don’t you listen when people give you good advice? [6]: to break a law or rule [7]: pale purple [8]: a technical problem of some kind The president had [9] the plan to open membership of the club to the public 61 10 [10]: any of the tubes that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body Non-Treatment 05 He’s quite an [1] character; I should be careful if I were you [2]: an official judgement made in court or at an inquest [3]: partly red [4]: pain and difficulty or something that causes it The government has decided to [5] on illegal immigration [6]: a piece of solid waste from your body My aunt Annie can be very [7] and disdainful, but she’s lovely really [8]: driving around for enjoyment in a car you have stolen [9]: bright green in colour 10 [10]: great trouble, difficulty or mental pain Non-Treatment 06 Trade [1] were imposed against any country that refused to sign the agreement [2]: painful infected area on the skin or inside your body Barbara tends to be rather [3], I don’t know if she’s just shy [4]: to officially end a law, an agreement, etc [5]: yellow-brown in colour [6]: extremely tiring and difficult They [7] with the official about the decision [8]: to cause problems for somebody/something [9]: to complain about somebody/something in a way that other people find annoying 10 [10]: not expecting somebody/something to be good or useful, especially because of experiences that you have had in the past Treatment 01 62 Doctors praised the [1] of a mother yesterday who made medical history when she gave birth to triplets, one of whom had grown outside her [2] The surgeons delivered the triplets by [3] last Friday after it was discovered that one of the babies had created its own [4] - tissue joining the [5] - outside the womb, putting the life of the mother at risk Doctors had discovered that the mother was expecting triplets earlier in the pregnancy but it was not until the 28th week that they realized that Ronan had developed outside the [6] and was the result of [7], i.e when the egg develops outside the womb in the [8], which link the ovaries the womb The mother had [9] naturally and was not taking any [10] The majority of ectopic pregnancies result in termination Treatment 02 You have heard it so often, that all those modern artiest are only pulling the wool over the public’s eyes, and it is easy to laugh, in a superior kind of way, both at the more extreme examples of contemporary art and at the apparent [1] of its [2] The current enthusiasm for modern art - there are more people visiting [3] every week than there were people in Florence at the height of the [4] - appears to be more than a [5] If people got nothing from what they see there, they would vote with their feet At the end of the 19th century a lot of people had problems with [6], and, later, when confronted with [7] paintings, the gallery-going public had problems with those too The [8] were often [9], but liking surrealism is perfectly same and acceptable, and it appears everywhere, from posters to advertising campaigns As a result, we are all now more visually literate than before, more immune to shocks, [10] surprises Treatment 03 The scheduled flight is a normal, regular flight; a [1] flight is a special flight taking a group of people usually to the same holiday destination [2] fares normally 63 have to be booked a fixed number of days in advance and they offer value for money Budget fares are usually cheaper but may have some [3] and are usually nonrefundable or if you cancel, you may have to pay a cancellation fee When you go sea travel, you may decide to book a [4] in a shared cabin, or to have a single or double cabin For more money, you can often get a deluxe cabin, perhaps on the [5] - the highest part of the ship, which is often bigger and more comfortable Some people prefer hotels Others prefer [6] - where you your own cooking - accommodation, such as a holiday apartment or [7] - small cottage or cabin especially built for holiday-makers In Britain and Ireland, guests houses and [8] similar to pubs, also offering accommodation - offer good accommodation which is often cheaper than hotels, and there are many private homes offering bed-andbreakfast Some types of accommodation offer [9] (usually breakfast and one other meal) or [10] Treatment 04 On arrival in most countries as a foreigner you have to show your passport, a [1] and often a customs declaration form You may need a visa and a vaccination certificate depending on the entry restrictions Customs carry out spot checks/randoms checks on people’s luggage They use [2] to search for drugs and explosives In most cases, you have to [3] at the port of entry Genuine [4] may try to seek [5] Customs officers also look out for illegal immigrants, some of whom may be economic migrants For some traffic offenses you have to pay a [6], and this may be an on-thespot-fine Parking tickets for illegal parking are issued by police and/or [7] 64 If there has been an accident, the police may ask drivers to take a [8] test and to make a statement at a police station Police have limited stop-and-search powers [9] cameras operate in many public areas A police officer cannot normally enter your home against you wishes without a [10] Treatment 05 Lord Acton said, 'All power corrupts but absolute power [1] absolutely? Historically, power in Britain rests with the [2] Kings and queens succeed one another to the throne according to the [3] A new monarch accedes to the throne as soon as his or her [4] dies The eldest son of the current monarch is the heir apparent with other close relatives said to be, say, second, third or fourth in line to the throne If the eldest son is too young to [5], then a [6] may take his place until he reaches a suitable age There have been times in history when a pretender has laid claim to the throne, saying that it should rightfully belong to him, rather than to the person [7] king In other words, he is trying to [8] that king and to [9] power for himself His opponents would say that such a pretender is trying to [10] If he succeeds, then the person whose place he takes can be said to fall from power A person who does not use power well can be said to abuse power Treatment 06 Behind the public debates of [1], the hidden pressures on government influence [2] much more than speeches Growing numbers of [3] are themselves wellpaid to represent commercial or special interests, sometimes more [4] than their own [5] But the most powerful lobbies, like the big corporations or the [6] not bother much about Members: they can go straight to ministers and civil servants Lobbyists 65 reach their [7] when the [8] is preparing his annual budget and receives [9] from business interests pressing for tax [10] 66 Appendix D Pre-Interview Questions Can you describe the way you normally learn vocabulary? What you think about learning vocabulary in a random list? What you think about learning vocabulary by theme? 67 Appendix E Post-Interview Questions How you feel about the first two week of the experiments? Is it easy or difficult to learn new words by this way, compared to others? How you feed about the last two week of the experiment? Is it easy or difficult to learn new words by this way, compared to others? Which one you prefer? Which one is more effective for you? If you can suggest your school to choose either method, what should you suggest, either or both? 68