The Implementation of the Keyword Method to Increase Foreign Language
Vocabulary Recall with First year Spanish Students
Jill M. Bell ----......
Submitted to the Master of Arts in Education Program
Of Defiance College
In partial fulfillment of
The requirements for the degree of
Masters of Arts in Education
July, 2008
Dr. Fred W. Coulter, Advisor
r. Jo Ann Burkhardt, Coordinator
Master of Arts in Education Program
Chair, Division of Education
2
Abstract
Thirteen first year Spanish students enrolled in a rural Midwest school participated in
the study. The purpose of the study was to determine if the implementation of a
specific mnemonic technique would increase foreign language vocabulary recall. The
mnemonic technique that was implemented was the Keyword method. Students'
foreign language recall data was analyzed from archival assessments and compared to
post-assessments following the implementation of the Keyword method. Results
indicated that students demonstrated an increase in vocabulary recall, especially when
the keyword and the foreign language word were visualized interacting together.
Acknowledgements
I wish to acknowledge all those who helped me succeed in completing this project. I
would like to thank my mother in-law, husband and children for their patience, love
and encouragement. I would like to especially thank my mother for her guidance,
support and time she dedicated to helping me achieve this goal. In addition, I would
like to thank my students for their participation and cooperation throughout this
project. Finally, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Fred Coulter, and Dr. Jo Ann
Burkhardt for their direction and comments as I progressed through this project.
3
Chapter I: Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Justification
Definition of Terms
Table of Contents
Limitations and Appropriate Use of Results
Chapter II: Review of Literature
Conclusion
Chapter ill: Methods and Procedures
Participants
TreatmentlIntervention
InstrumentslProtocols
Procedures
Timeline
Data Analysis
Conclusion
Chapter IV: Results
Summary
Chapter V: Discussion
Meaning of Findings
Summary
Recommendations
Conclusion
References
Appendix A: Foreign Language Acquisition Survey
Appendix B: Interview Summary
Appendix C: Parent Letter
Appendix D: Data Collection Spreadsheet
Appendix E: Sample of Transcribed Interview
4
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List of Figures
Figures Page
Figure 1. Foreign Language Acquisition Survey Results 31
Figure 2. Quiz Assessment Averages for Immediate Recall 32
Figure 3. Quiz Assessment Averages with Provided Image 33
Figure 4. Quiz Assessment Averages Without Provided Image 35
Figure 5. Chapter Test Assessment Averages for Delayed Recall 36
Figure 6. Informal Interview Results 37
6
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
After 17 years as a teacher of foreign language, it became apparent that there
was a need to find a strategy to assist first year students with vocabulary recall.
Through a review of the professional literature the teacher investigated various direct
teaching methods, and found a strategy known as the Keyword method. Atkinson,
(1975) who developed the Keyword method stated that foreign language students
increased vocabulary recall when using his method, which involved a mnemonic
technique. Furthermore, Campos, Arnor, and Gonzalez (2004) as well as Sagarra and
Alba (2006) found similar results with the Keyword method. The teacher sought a
strategy, such as the Keyword method, to implement and provide students with an
alternative method for vocabulary acquisition.
Statement of Problem
The purpose of the project was to determine if the use of the Keyword method
improved vocabulary recall of high school foreign language students. The research
questions were: (1) How did the professional literature reviewed define the Keyword
method? (2) According to the professional literature reviewed, what were the benefits
of the implementation of the Keyword method? (3) How was the Keyword method
implemented according to the professional literature reviewed? (4) How did the
Keyword method improve vocabulary recall of high school foreign language
students?
7
Justification
The teacher/researcher found that first year Spanish language students were
having difficulty recalling vocabulary, which enabled their ability to communicate in
the foreign language. The teacher/researcher desired a change in her instructional
technique for vocabulary acquisition, from rote memorization to the information
processing technique Keyword method. The first year Spanish language students
were not acquiring the vocabulary needed using traditional rote rehearsal because of
insufficient class time. Consequently, they were not remembering vocabulary from
chapter to chapter. The use of the Keyword method assisted students with vocabulary
recall and improved their vocabulary retention. As a result, this method provided
students with the ability to recall vocabulary at an increased rate that enhanced
communication in the second language. It was also important that the benefits of
using an information processing method in the foreign language classroom were
investigated for other foreign language teachers who desired to change their teaching
instruction and improve students' vocabulary recall.
Definition of Terms
1. Keyword method: Keyword method was mnemonic, information processing
technique consisting of a two-step process for vocabulary recall, the first
verbal and the second visual.
2. Recall: Recall was the processing of retrieving vocabulary from memory.
3. Rote rehearsal: was a practice of repeating the vocabulary word numerous
times with no variations.
Limitations and Appropriate Use of Results
The limitations of the research were the length of research time, number of
participants, proficiency level of participants, limited student and teacher experience
with method, application of the method, and geographical location. The research was
conducted over a two-week period, using two different vocabulary sections in a
particular chapter. Learning vocabulary in a particular chapter takes one week per
section. The participants in the project were less than half of the Spanish level I
students, therefore, not all first year students participated. The proficiency level of
students who participated in the project was also a limitation because of true level of
experience with learning a foreign language. Some of the students had taken an
exploratory program for a semester while they were in eighth grade. The teacher had
limited experience with the Keyword method and in instructing students to use the
method to learn vocabulary, which influenced the reliability of the method. The
research was implemented in a rural Northwest Ohio district. Thus, due to these
limitations, results cannot be generalized to other settings, levels of foreign language
learners, and number of students.
8
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Introduction
9
The purpose of the project was to determine if the use of the Keyword method
improved vocabulary recall of high school foreign language students. The research
questions were: (1) How did the professional literature reviewed define the Keyword
method? (2) According to the professional literature reviewed, what were the benefits
of the implementation of the Keyword method? (3) How was the Keyword method
implemented according to the professional literature reviewed? (4) How did the
Keyword method improve vocabulary recall of high school foreign language
students?
Research question (1): How did the professional literature reviewed define the
Keyword method?
In order to answer research question one, a review of the professional
literature was conducted. Atkinson (1975) developed and honed the keyword method
to assist learners with foreign language vocabulary acquisition. He defined this
method as selecting an English word that sounded like some part of the foreign
language word, without a relationship to the foreign language word, except the sound.
He also explained the technique as a two-stage process. The first stage required
learners to associate the spoken foreign language word with the Keyword,
acoustically. The second stage required learners to form a mental image of the
Keyword interacting with the English translation. The Keyword method was as a
mnemonic technique that provided learners with a word in their native English
language that created a link to the foreign language vocabulary word (Atkinson,
1975; Raugh & Atkinson, 1975).
10
Hogben and Lawson's (1994) definition of Keyword method was similar to
Atkinson's definition, in that they agreed it was a two-stage process for vocabulary
acquisition. However, their description of the first stage differed slightly. Hogben and
Lawson described the first stage as choosing a keyword that sounded similar to and
looked like, part or all ofthe foreign language word. The second stage however, did
not differ from Atkinson's second stage. Learners were still required to visualize the
keyword interrelating with the foreign language word.
van Hell and Mahn (1997) also agreed with Atkinson's definition of the
Keyword method as a two-step process, although their explanation was similar to that
of Hog ben and Lawson's. van Hell and Mahn explained the method as linking the
keyword or first language word phonologically and/or orthographically to resemble
the foreign language word. Their definition of the method involved selecting a
keyword that also resembled the foreign language word or target word in appearance
not only in sound. Atkinson, Hogben and Lawson, and van Hell and Mahn did not
differ in their definition of the second stage of the Keyword method.
Additionally, Sagarra and Alba (2006) defined the Keyword method as a more
complex cognitive process than rote memorization, in which learners proceeded
through a multiple-step process to acquire vocabulary. They described the initial
process as linking the foreign l
ดำเนินงานของวิธีการเพิ่มภาษาต่างประเทศสำคัญคำศัพท์เรียกคืนกับนักเรียนสเปนปีแรกจิลม.เบลล์---...ส่งมาที่บัณฑิตศึกษาโปรแกรมสมัยที่วิทยาลัยในการตอบสนองบางส่วนข้อกำหนดสำหรับระดับของการต้นแบบของศิลปะในการศึกษากรกฎาคม 2008ดร. Fred W. Coulter ประธานกรรมการอาร์โจแอน Burkhardt ผู้ประสานงานในโปรแกรมการศึกษามหาบัณฑิตเก้าอี้ กองการศึกษา 2บทคัดย่อปีแรกสิบสามลักษณะที่ลงทะเบียนเรียนภาษาสเปนในไทม์ชนบทโรงเรียนเข้าร่วมการศึกษา วัตถุประสงค์ของการศึกษาถูกตรวจปฏิบัติการเทคนิคเฉพาะ mnemonic จะเพิ่มภาษาต่างประเทศคำศัพท์เรียกคืน ที่เทคนิค mnemonic ที่ถูกนำมาใช้เป็นวิธีการสำคัญ ของนักเรียนภาษาต่างประเทศเรียกคืนข้อมูลจากจดหมายเหตุประเมินวิเคราะห์ และเปรียบเทียบกับประเมินผลหลังปฏิบัติวิธีการสำคัญต่อไปนี้ ผลลัพธ์ระบุว่า นักเรียนแสดงให้เห็นว่าการเพิ่มศัพท์เรียกคืน โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเมื่อคำสำคัญและคำภาษาต่างประเทศมี visualized โต้ตอบกัน ถาม-ตอบฉันต้องยอมรับทุกคนที่ช่วยให้ฉันประสบความสำเร็จในการดำเนินโครงการนี้ ฉันอยากจะขอบคุณฉัน in-law แม่ สามี และเด็กความอดทน ความรักและให้กำลังใจ อยากจะขอบคุณแม่สำหรับคำแนะนำของเธอ โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งสนับสนุนและเวลาที่เธอทุ่มเทเพื่อช่วยฉันบรรลุเป้าหมายนี้ นอกจากนี้ ฉันจะขอขอบคุณนักเรียนของฉันมีส่วนร่วมและความร่วมมือทั้งนี้โครงการ ในที่สุด อยากขอบคุณประธานกรรมการของฉัน ดร. Fred Coulter และดร.โจแอนBurkhardt ทิศทางและข้อคิดเห็นเป็นผมหน้าไปเพียงใดผ่านทางโครงการนี้3 บทนำ i:รายงานปัญหาเหตุผลข้อกำหนดเงื่อนไขสารบัญข้อจำกัดและการใช้งานผลลัพธ์หมวดที่ II: ทบทวนวรรณกรรมบทสรุปบทป่วย: วิธีและขั้นตอนผู้เข้าร่วมTreatmentlInterventionInstrumentslProtocolsขั้นตอนการเส้นเวลาการวิเคราะห์ข้อมูลบทสรุปบทที่ IV: ผลลัพธ์สรุปบทสนทนา v คัมภีร์:ความหมายของการค้นพบสรุปคำแนะนำบทสรุปการอ้างอิงภาคผนวก a:ภาษาต่างประเทศมาสำรวจภาคผนวก b:สรุปสัมภาษณ์ภาคผนวก c:จดหมายหลักภาคผนวก d:ข้อมูลรวบรวมกระดาษภาคผนวก e:ตัวอย่างสัมภาษณ์ทับ4หน้า66778918191920212325252728383939414243444647484950 5รายการตัวเลขตัวเลขหน้ารูปที่ 1 ภาษาต่างประเทศมาสำรวจผล 31รูปที่ 2 ค่าเฉลี่ยการประเมินแบบทดสอบสำหรับการเรียกคืนทันที 32รูปที่ 3 แบบทดสอบเรื่องค่าเฉลี่ยประเมินให้ภาพ 33รูปที่ 4 แบบทดสอบเรื่องค่าเฉลี่ยการประเมิน โดยให้ภาพ 35รูปที่ 5 บททดสอบประเมินค่าเฉลี่ยในการเรียกคืนล่าช้า 36รูปที่ 6 ผลการสัมภาษณ์เป็น 37 6บทที่ 1: บทนำหลังจาก 17 ปีเป็นครูภาษาต่างประเทศ กลายปรากฏว่ามีwas a need to find a strategy to assist first year students with vocabulary recall.Through a review of the professional literature the teacher investigated various directteaching methods, and found a strategy known as the Keyword method. Atkinson,(1975) who developed the Keyword method stated that foreign language studentsincreased vocabulary recall when using his method, which involved a mnemonictechnique. Furthermore, Campos, Arnor, and Gonzalez (2004) as well as Sagarra andAlba (2006) found similar results with the Keyword method. The teacher sought astrategy, such as the Keyword method, to implement and provide students with analternative method for vocabulary acquisition.Statement of ProblemThe purpose of the project was to determine if the use of the Keyword methodimproved vocabulary recall of high school foreign language students. The researchquestions were: (1) How did the professional literature reviewed define the Keywordmethod? (2) According to the professional literature reviewed, what were the benefitsof the implementation of the Keyword method? (3) How was the Keyword methodimplemented according to the professional literature reviewed? (4) How did theKeyword method improve vocabulary recall of high school foreign languagestudents? 7JustificationThe teacher/researcher found that first year Spanish language students werehaving difficulty recalling vocabulary, which enabled their ability to communicate inthe foreign language. The teacher/researcher desired a change in her instructionaltechnique for vocabulary acquisition, from rote memorization to the informationprocessing technique Keyword method. The first year Spanish language studentswere not acquiring the vocabulary needed using traditional rote rehearsal because ofinsufficient class time. Consequently, they were not remembering vocabulary fromchapter to chapter. The use of the Keyword method assisted students with vocabularyrecall and improved their vocabulary retention. As a result, this method providedstudents with the ability to recall vocabulary at an increased rate that enhancedcommunication in the second language. It was also important that the benefits ofusing an information processing method in the foreign language classroom wereinvestigated for other foreign language teachers who desired to change their teachinginstruction and improve students' vocabulary recall.Definition of Terms1. Keyword method: Keyword method was mnemonic, information processingtechnique consisting of a two-step process for vocabulary recall, the firstverbal and the second visual.2. Recall: Recall was the processing of retrieving vocabulary from memory.3. Rote rehearsal: was a practice of repeating the vocabulary word numeroustimes with no variations. Limitations and Appropriate Use of ResultsThe limitations of the research were the length of research time, number ofparticipants, proficiency level of participants, limited student and teacher experiencewith method, application of the method, and geographical location. The research wasconducted over a two-week period, using two different vocabulary sections in aparticular chapter. Learning vocabulary in a particular chapter takes one week persection. The participants in the project were less than half of the Spanish level Istudents, therefore, not all first year students participated. The proficiency level ofstudents who participated in the project was also a limitation because of true level ofexperience with learning a foreign language. Some of the students had taken anexploratory program for a semester while they were in eighth grade. The teacher hadlimited experience with the Keyword method and in instructing students to use themethod to learn vocabulary, which influenced the reliability of the method. Theresearch was implemented in a rural Northwest Ohio district. Thus, due to theselimitations, results cannot be generalized to other settings, levels of foreign languagelearners, and number of students.8 CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATUREIntroduction9The purpose of the project was to determine if the use of the Keyword methodimproved vocabulary recall of high school foreign language students. The researchquestions were: (1) How did the professional literature reviewed define the Keywordmethod? (2) According to the professional literature reviewed, what were the benefitsof the implementation of the Keyword method? (3) How was the Keyword method
implemented according to the professional literature reviewed? (4) How did the
Keyword method improve vocabulary recall of high school foreign language
students?
Research question (1): How did the professional literature reviewed define the
Keyword method?
In order to answer research question one, a review of the professional
literature was conducted. Atkinson (1975) developed and honed the keyword method
to assist learners with foreign language vocabulary acquisition. He defined this
method as selecting an English word that sounded like some part of the foreign
language word, without a relationship to the foreign language word, except the sound.
He also explained the technique as a two-stage process. The first stage required
learners to associate the spoken foreign language word with the Keyword,
acoustically. The second stage required learners to form a mental image of the
Keyword interacting with the English translation. The Keyword method was as a
mnemonic technique that provided learners with a word in their native English
language that created a link to the foreign language vocabulary word (Atkinson,
1975; Raugh & Atkinson, 1975).
10
Hogben and Lawson's (1994) definition of Keyword method was similar to
Atkinson's definition, in that they agreed it was a two-stage process for vocabulary
acquisition. However, their description of the first stage differed slightly. Hogben and
Lawson described the first stage as choosing a keyword that sounded similar to and
looked like, part or all ofthe foreign language word. The second stage however, did
not differ from Atkinson's second stage. Learners were still required to visualize the
keyword interrelating with the foreign language word.
van Hell and Mahn (1997) also agreed with Atkinson's definition of the
Keyword method as a two-step process, although their explanation was similar to that
of Hog ben and Lawson's. van Hell and Mahn explained the method as linking the
keyword or first language word phonologically and/or orthographically to resemble
the foreign language word. Their definition of the method involved selecting a
keyword that also resembled the foreign language word or target word in appearance
not only in sound. Atkinson, Hogben and Lawson, and van Hell and Mahn did not
differ in their definition of the second stage of the Keyword method.
Additionally, Sagarra and Alba (2006) defined the Keyword method as a more
complex cognitive process than rote memorization, in which learners proceeded
through a multiple-step process to acquire vocabulary. They described the initial
process as linking the foreign l
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