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

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