Measuring German Vocabulary Learning
Disciplines
German Language and Literature
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Vocabulary is an important part of learning any foreign language. But not all words affect our ability to communicate and understand equally since some words are used more often than others. In the case of German, research indicates that learning the 1,000 most frequently used word families helps learners understand approximately 70-75% of written texts and up to 90% of spoken language. In this study, we compare the writing abilities of two groups of beginning German learners, one using a traditional textbook and the other using a curriculum based in word frequency studies. Using NVivo software, we compare the breadth and depth of the two groups’ active vocabularies. In this presentation, we will present our preliminary findings on the effectiveness of a vocabulary frequency approach.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Foreign Languages
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Shane Peterson
Measuring German Vocabulary Learning
Vocabulary is an important part of learning any foreign language. But not all words affect our ability to communicate and understand equally since some words are used more often than others. In the case of German, research indicates that learning the 1,000 most frequently used word families helps learners understand approximately 70-75% of written texts and up to 90% of spoken language. In this study, we compare the writing abilities of two groups of beginning German learners, one using a traditional textbook and the other using a curriculum based in word frequency studies. Using NVivo software, we compare the breadth and depth of the two groups’ active vocabularies. In this presentation, we will present our preliminary findings on the effectiveness of a vocabulary frequency approach.