The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge in Speaking Development of Saudi EFL Learners

Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 9. Number 1. March 2018

13 Pages Posted: 2 May 2018

See all articles by Raja Muhammad Ishtiaq Khan

Raja Muhammad Ishtiaq Khan

Majmaah University - Deanship of Preparatory Year

Noor Raha Mohd Radzuan

University Malaysia Pahang - Centre for Modern Languages and Human Sciences

Muhammad Shahbaz

Majmaah University

Ainol Haryati Ibrahim

University Malaysia Pahang - Centre for Modern Languages and Human Sciences

Ghulam Mustafa

Marie Stopes Society Pakistan

Date Written: March 27, 2018

Abstract

Speaking in a foreign language is considered to be a challenging aspect of language learning that demands competence and mastery in learning any foreign language. Vocabulary learning verifies to play an important role in oral communication. However, literature lacks the studies where both English as a foreign language (EFL) students and teachers’ views are obtained to provide analyses of the situations in which learners are not showing desired results in speaking. The current study explores the problems of lack of vocabulary that Saudi EFL students face with special focus on their speaking proficiency. It aims to seek EFL teachers’ opinions on the extent to which lack of vocabulary has influence on EFL students’ performance in listening, and conversation classes, and in expressing their ideas and feelings, and especially in speaking skill. A questionnaire was used for the responses from the students and an interview for the teachers to reveal their perceptions about the vocabulary hindrance in speaking skills. 20 EFL instructors and teachers of Preparatory Year Program (PYP) section of a public university and 110 EFL students participated in this study. The analysis of the data showed that both teachers and learners indicated that lack of vocabulary is one of the major factors in students’ inability to speaking English. In the current study, among many other suggestions it is proposed that the inclusion of mobile assisted language learning could be useful way of developing vocabulary for spoken proficiency of Saudi EFL learners.

Keywords: EFL, speaking vocabulary, spoken proficiency

Suggested Citation

Khan, Raja Muhammad Ishtiaq and Radzuan, Noor Raha Mohd and Shahbaz, Muhammad and Ibrahim, Ainol Haryati and Mustafa, Ghulam, The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge in Speaking Development of Saudi EFL Learners (March 27, 2018). Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 9. Number 1. March 2018 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3151128 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3151128

Raja Muhammad Ishtiaq Khan (Contact Author)

Majmaah University - Deanship of Preparatory Year ( email )

Majmaah, Majmaah 11952
Saudi Arabia

Noor Raha Mohd Radzuan

University Malaysia Pahang - Centre for Modern Languages and Human Sciences ( email )

Pahang 26600
Malaysia

Muhammad Shahbaz

Majmaah University ( email )

Computer Science and Information Deptartment
Majmaah, Majmaah 11952
Saudi Arabia

Ainol Haryati Ibrahim

University Malaysia Pahang - Centre for Modern Languages and Human Sciences ( email )

Pahang 26600
Malaysia

Ghulam Mustafa

Marie Stopes Society Pakistan ( email )

21-C, Commercial Area
Old Sunset Boulevard, DHA-II
Karachi, Pakistan 75500
Pakistan

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