Title: The Effect of Using Electronic Dictionaries on Second Language Acquisition: Plus or Minus
1The Effect of Using Electronic Dictionaries on
Second Language Acquisition Plus or Minus?
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- ? ? ? ? ? ? 1094402004
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2Introduction
- Background
- There are a growing number of ED users asking
for help from ED machines instead of looking up
printed dictionaries (PDs) in learning English.
3- Recently, EDs are becoming popular in non-English
Asian countries. The controversies arise whether
EDs are recommended or rejected in the ESL
classroom.
4The Purpose of The Present Study
- The aim of this paper is to explore if the
advantages outweigh the disadvantages of using
EDs in an ESL classroom. Moreover, the paper is
also to examine if the effect of using EDs on L2
acquisition.
5Research Questions
- Research Question 1 Do the advantages of using
EDs outweigh the disadvantages for L2 learners? - Research Question 2 Can the users of EDs
increase their volume of vocabulary?
6- Research Question 3 Is there any statistic
significance between the learners age levels and
the volume of vocabulary? - Research Question 4 Is there any statistic
significance between EDs and PDs for L2 learners
viewpoints?
7The Significance of The Study
- There is little research to highlight the effect
of using EDs on L2 acquisition. This paper is to
explore if the use of EDs is helpful to L2
learners.
8Literature Review
- From 21st century on, there is a growing number
of ED users in learning English. Midlane (2005)
points out that the majority of students felt
difficult for vocabulary acquisition in looking
up PDs.
9- Nowadays, the students would rather carry EDs
than PDs due to the ease and fast speed of
looking up new words (Midlane, 2005).
10- Based upon the sale marketing survey in Taiwan,
the ED users pay more attention to functions
rather than prices (Lin, 2001). As a result, the
well-known ED manufacturers are always developing
excellent qualities and innovations to meet
different users needs.
11countries
real-person pronounces, 4,500,000 vocabularies,
animation and recording, the key word manhunt,
the whole translation, grammars correct, PC key,
wireless surfing an Internet
definition, pronunciation, listening, speaking,
the retrieval of reading texts
the diversified functions, the standardization of
pronunciation and the interaction of network
electronic content and automatic search
small size and low prices
The features
Table 2.1 The Revolutions of EDs
12Kind of dictionaries
Table 2.2 The Comparisons of EDs and PDs
13The Effect of Using EDs on SLA
- First of all, Schmitt and McCarthy (1997)
maintain that look-ups are easy for EDs because
of the fast speed. However, while thinking about
a word, a person involved in deep engagement with
words may lead to high retention. This is a
great barrier for ED users to achieve retention
and fix the lexical item into the users brain.
14- Secondly, EDs are affective benefits for students
to gain emotional security in the classroom. This
may lead to students relying on the machines a
lot instead of listening to classroom discussion
(Swan and Smith, 2001).
15- Thirdly, it is difficult for learners to work out
the deep engagement with new words by the process
of ED look-up (Stirling, 2003).
16- Swan and Smith (2001) argue that the inconsistent
built-in pronunciation of EDs is confusing for
learners due to different types of machines.
17- Finally, Tang (1997) describes EDs as the
students best friend. However, sometimes the
overdependence on the machines may get lost for
learners while coping with the encoding in
translating from L1 to L2.
18Methodology
Figure 3.1 The Framework of Research
19- Research Hypotheses
- H1 The advantages of using EDs outweigh the
disadvantages for L2 learners. - H2 The users of EDs can increase their volume of
vocabulary.
20- H3 There is statistic significance between the
learners age levels and the volume of
vocabulary. - H4 There is statistic significance between EDs
and PDs for L2 learners viewpoints.
21Participants
- The participants of this study were from
different parts of Taiwan and China. Please
refer to Figure 3.2. The age levels were ranging
from 15 to more than 41. Please see Figure 3.3.
22Figure 3.2 Hometowns for Participants
23Figure 3.3 Age Levels
24Instrumentation
- Survey and an informal interview were utilized in
this study. The questionnaire used 5-point
Likert Scales.
25Reliability
- In the study, the internal reliability
coefficient (Conbachs Alpha) was 0.80930.75.
26Data Collection Procedures
- In the study, the questionnaire was given out and
returned on June 5. There were 400 copies were
given out. However, the valid response rate was
93.
27- In order to further investigate if what the
participants were asked on the questionnaire was
consistent with what they really wanted to say,
51 respondents were chosen to do an informal
interview.
28Data Analysis
- One-way ANOVA,t-test, percentage, and content
analysis were utilized in the study.
29Results
- H1 The advantages of using electronic
dictionaries outweigh - the disadvantages for L2 learners.
Table 4.1 The Advantages of Using Electronic
Dictionaries Outweigh the
Disadvantages for L2 Learners
30Figure 4.1 The Advantages of EDs
31Figure 4.2 The Disadvantages of EDs
32- H2 The users of EDs can increase their volume of
vocabulary.
Table 4.2 The Users of EDs Can Increase Their
Volume of Vocabulary
33H3 There is statistic significance between the
learners age levels and the volume of
vocabulary.
Table 4.3 The Statistic Significance between the
Learners Age Levels and the
Volume of Vocabulary
34(No Transcript)
35H4 There are differences between EDs and PDs
for L2 learners viewpoints.
Table 4.4 The Differences between EDs and PDs for
L2 Learners Viewpoints
36Discussions and Conclusion
Finding 1 Different interpretations of using EDs
for low achievers
and high achievers
- According to Wu (2005), EDs are mostly used in
learning strategy for Taiwanese students. Nation
(2001) also points out that high achievers who
are exposed to English a lot may be better than
low achievers in grammar and reading
comprehension. Naturally, the learning anxiety of
high achievers is less than that of low
achievers.
37Finding 2 Different Viewpoints of Age Levels and
Vocabulary Volume for EDs
- According to the data of informal interview, 7
participants at the age of 41up supposed that the
speed of lookup for EDs was fast and effectively
increased learners vocabulary volume. In
addition, 10 participants at the age of 21-25
also agreed that the use of EDs could increase
their vocabulary volume because of convenience
and immediate search.
38- Additionally, 14 participants at the age of 15-20
showed that EDs could increase vocabulary volume
and choose the types of EDs, based upon the
users different needs.
39Finding 3 The Advantages over the Disadvantages
for the Use of EDs
- Zahner and et al. (1994) supposed that the
vocabulary of EDs was less rich than that of PDs.
By contrast, there were rich content, more
explanations and vocabulary volume in EDs.
40- However, Koren (1997) maintains that the learners
cannot see the details of each word in looking up
EDs. But, PDs can excel more than EDs.
41- Overall, L2 learners may prefer EDs more than PDs
to communicate with each other in business
meetings. The EDs can also help the learners use
simple English because of the convenience, fast
speed and emotional dependence.
42Conclusion
- The results showed that there was statistic
significance between different viewpoints of
using EDs and PDs for L2 learners. Moreover, the
advantages of EDs outweighed the disadvantages.
Lastly, the use of EDs could increase L2
learners vocabulary volume.
43- The participants in this study supposed that the
effect of using EDs was plus and helpful. This
indicates that the recall and retention have
limitations due to the users relying more on the
machines. This also implies that EDs are
considered as a tool and tutor.
44The Limitation of This Study
- The participants were mostly students at the age
level of 15-20 in this study. The number was so
small that it could not generalize the whole
population. The data are a typical case of L2
learners in Taiwan.
45Implications to Educators
- The emotional dependence and the low motivation
may be a challenge to educators.
46Implications to ED Manufacturers
- The high price and insufficient vocabulary as
well as pronunciation of EDs are the challenges
of manufacturers finding the way out.
47Recommendations for Future Research
- Research can be done in the future in the
following areas - This study can be applied in different areas and
different occupations to do the related research
- this study can be applied in on-line survey so as
to achieve more results.
48End
- Thanks for your listening.