Home » An Analysis of Vocabulary in Collaborative Writing Performance of Japanese Learners of English at University

An Analysis of Vocabulary in Collaborative Writing Performance of Japanese Learners of English at University

FUJIWARA Yumi,1* SATO Erina2

Article first published online: August 4, 2015
Full Article (PDF)

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to analyze the vocabulary of Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ collaborative writing performance, as compared to individual writing performance, especially focusing on tokens (i.e. the total number of words), types (i.e. the number of different words), lexical diversity, and lexical sophistication: in this study, the Guiraid index is used as a measure of lexical diversity and the Lexical Frequency Profile (LFP) as a measure of lexical sophistication. Prior to the study, 128 university students in Japan were administered a Productive Vocabulary Levels Test (PVLT). Study participants were selected based on their productive vocabulary as determined by this test. As a result, a total of 90 Japanese EFL learners were chosen as participants in the comparative analysis: 30 participants engaged in a picture description task individually, whereas 60 did the same task in pairs, leading to 30 paired texts in total. The results of this study revealed that the participants who engaged in pair work produced more varied and lower-frequency words in comparison with those who worked individually, although pair work did not result in a significant improvement in the number of word tokens. In sum, collaborative writing involving peer interaction can help EFL learners improve access to their vocabulary and function as a pedagogical tool facilitating language learning and teaching.

Volumes (in journal order)

Categories

Categorized Tag Cloud

EFL NISHIKAWA; Tetsu Arachidonic Acid Cascade FUJITA; Hiroyuki HIRAYAMA; Etsuko XU; Fengming REE English writing activity Hisashi MATSUDA; Hisashi Cortisol Literary Criticism food labels Inpatient Violence FUJIWARA; Yumi Cooperative Learning CHIZU; Imai Pharmaceutical Science English KIMURA; Tooru IMAE; Hidefumi IKEGAMI; Sako IMAI; Chizu teaching/learning of science English Quality of Life NOJIMA; Keisuke Communication Skills YOSHIKAWA; Masayuki NAKAMURA; Tsuyako elementary school students Scientific English written gastrointestinal disorders Water Systems single-product JENKINS; Judge Pamela Cognitive Linguistics Kyoto Gardens HONJO; Michio oral presentation Triage Nurses Conferences Full Paper KONISHI; Nami circadian rhythm Japanese Cedar Pollinosis HATTA; Kanji WAJIMA; Rikako Kaoru SUGAWARA relevance and assessment sensitivity of tests teien Cissus sicyoides the manual booklets Outer World SF8-Assessment Scores Japanese Cultural Uniqueness Shinno-san Kampo Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells (RBL-2H3) complementary product Pharmacy OGASAWARA; Hiroyuki Inner World Brazilian Herbal Medicine ESP English Salon NAKAMURA; Seikou NAKAI; Hisao Emotion and Behavior TEZUKA; Osamu self-confidence Erina SATO relevance and assessment senstitivity of tests Mini Review Salivary Cortisol Nerve Growth Factor grammar teaching Drug Discovery Epidemiologic Study TAKAO; Ikuko Tryptanthrin Immunodefense System Stress reishi SATO; Noriko Writing Performance Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) Antagonists OSCE English program English for Special Purposes Proceedings Water smoking cessation SUGAWARA; Kaoru Depression Treatment NAKAMURA;Seikou grammar instruction fluency NOGUCHI; Ayako Ganodrema lucidum KITADE; Tatsuya ITABE; Hiroyuki Seiji; SHIMOSATO Homogeneity of High Cultures and Subcultures Cytokines Collaborative Writing HIBINO; Kenichi FOONG; Anthony FW Immunoglobulin-A Monitoring Killer Cells Vocabulary MATSUMOTO; Kenya Alzheimer’s Disease Furukawa; Shoei SATO; Erina glycemic index Beta-Endorphins continuous publication Global Warming OTANI; Arika Gardens NAKASHIMA; Souichi practical science experiments KOBAYASHI; Aya Dickens elective subject Elderly proficiency level task type KOBAYASHI; Yasuna MIKAMI: Hiroshi multiple choice Dative Alternation metabolic indexes EFL 1. metalanguage questionnaire survey Masayuki YOSHIKAWA and English for Study Abroad complexity Fiction Nutrient Functions Claims AIURA; Satoshi Minoru; OZEKI HASAGAWA; Keito Edwin Drood MATHEWS; Cy HATA; Hiroki obesity the trial accuracy Kyoto English Teaching Task Types Bleak House niwa Nutritinal function promoting and impairing factors ISHIKAWA; Hiroyasu HIEJIMA; Yoshimitsu OUCHI: Yuri ITO; Ken CRESPO; David Cultural Properties Airborne Pollen Levels KOHNO; Kyoko Flavonoids Kanji; HATTA conference Facial Illustration-Based Self-Rating NISHITANI; Hironori Atopic Dermatiitis TAKESHIM;A Shigeo medication counseling type-2 diabetes Science English KAMADA; Masao Japanese pharmacy students shying away from science picture description task Cognitively Impaired Elderly communicative competence Chin-Don Therapy affirrmative feedback Pronunciation Internet-Use Tendency MATSUNO; Hikari WAKATSUKI; Toru HIOKI; Chizuko NISHIOKA; Yuichiro Souichi NAKASHIMA MATSUDA; Hisashi emergency departments Wisdom Note Japanese EFL learners Fengming XU Student-Lecturer microphone use Teaching Preparatory education prior to study abroad coronavirus Environmental Carbon Dioxide Concentration physical symptoms KUWABARA; Masato