Teaching Second Language Vocabulary: the Role and Application of the AWL

Authors

  • Ge Yan The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/ret.v3i3.1832

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role and application of AWL in science-related subjects, namely the issue of whether or not students in science-related majors is advantaged or disadvantaged in using the Academic Word List (AWL) in their academic writing assignments as the imbalance of word frequency in AWL. Participants (n=18) are obliged to answer the Questionnaire. Furthermore, if needed, a brief interview would be arranged on some uncertain questions. Results show that learning and acquiring academic vocabulary would benefit participants in research articles, while AWL is inadequate for students in science-related disciplines in their academic writing. We claim that students in science-related majors may be disadvantaged than other majors’ students in using Coxhead’s Academic Word List, and a wordlist screened out from science-related corpus perhaps more suitable for ESP students. Meanwhile, AWL, as a role of reference, would aid language learning or acquisition.

Keywords:

AWL; Academic vocabulary; Academic writing; ESP

References

[1] Chen, Q., & Ge, G. (2008). T A corpus-based lexical study on frequency and distribution of Coxhead’s AWL Word families in medical research articles (RAs). English for Specific Purposes, 26, 502–514.

[2] Coxhead, A. (2000). A new academic word list. TESOL Quarterly, 34, 213–238.

[3] Coxhead, A. (2011). The Academic Word List ten years on: Research and teaching implications. TESOL Quarterly, 45, 355–362.

[4] Hyland, K., & Tse, P. (2007). Is there an “academic vocabulary”? TESOL Quarterly, 41, 235–253.

[5] Martínez, I., Beck, S., & Panza, C. (2009). Academic vocabulary in agriculture research articles: A corpus-based study. English for Specific Purposes, 28, 183–

[6]

[7] Nation, I. S. P. (2011). Research into practice: Vocabulary. Language Teaching, 44, 529–539.

[8] Ward, J. (2009). A basic engineering English word list for less proficient foundation engineering undergraduates. English for Specific Purposes, 28(3), 170-182.

[9] Zhang, M. (2013). The Application of Corpus Tools in the Teaching of Discipline-Specific Academic Vocabulary: A Case Study for Information Engineering Undergraduates. IJCALLT, 3, 33-47.

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Vol. 3 , Iss. 3 (July 2020)

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Articles

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