Vocabulary Discovery Strategy Used by Saudi EFL Students in an Intensive English Language Learning Context

Abstract

This study examines the preferred vocabulary discovery strategies (VDS) of Saudi EFL students enrolled in an intensive English language programme at the University of Ha’il in Saudi Arabia. A sample of 746 male and female students participated in the study. The data collection was carried out through a questionnaire. The collected data were computed and analysed via descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way repeated measure ANOVA. The results revealed that the students reported using different VDSs. The data analysis showed that social and skipping strategies are the most used strategy categories, while guessing and dictionary strategies were used less frequently. The results also showed that females use all the strategies more frequently than males, and there was a statistically significant difference in guessing and skipping strategy use by females. Females also used social and dictionary strategies more than males according to mean differences; however, there was no statistically significant difference. This paper discusses the implications of the findings and some pedagogical considerations for teaching and learning vocabulary within an EFL context.