ESP Vocabulary Instruction: Investigating the Effect of Using a Game Oriented Teaching Method for Learners of English for Nursing

Authors:
  • PRParisa Riahipour
    Parisa Riahipour
  • ZSZeinab Saba
    Zeinab Saba
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Abstract
Among several important separate components which make especial English distinct from general English, vocabulary is a major part of all English for specific purpose (ESP) teaching courses. In addition to general and semi-technical vocabulary items, nursing genre contains the specific jargon to be learnt if the aim is to introduce the concepts to the students who attend the courses to become insiders to the genre. Medlin(2009) refers to nursing genre as a complex and crucial factor in future professional achievement. The present study attempts to investigate applying games in getting students of an ESP course of vocabulary involved in learning activities. To do so, 40 L2 learners majoring in nursing in Shahrekord Azad Universitywere randomly selected and assigned into two groups through Nelson Test (1976). During a 5 week treatment, the first group benefited from games, and traditional teaching methods were applied for the second group. To collect the data, two vocabulary tests were administered and a covariate analysis was conducted on the pretest-posttest vocabulary test scores. A questionnaire was also given to the learners which assessed their attitudes toward learning vocabulary. The obtained results revealed that students of the game oriented class had a fairly effective tendency and positive performance toward vocabulary games, greater than what was observed in the traditional group.
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