Investigating ESL Undergrad Pakistani Students’ Vocabulary Learning Strategies with Respect to Gender

Abstract

This research study is intended to explore vocabulary learning strategies of undergraduate English as second language students at COMSATS University Lahore, Pakistan. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the most and the least frequently used vocabulary learning strategies, to find out significant difference between male and female students in learning strategies for vocabulary, and to explore the types of strategies for learning vocabulary employed by undergraduate students. Data are collected through questionnaire and interviews. Questionnaire of vocabulary learning strategies is based on Schmitt’s taxonomy (1997). Semi structured interview is conducted to find out what strategies undergrad students employ in learning vocabulary to get in depth detail concerning vocabulary learning strategies. There were 300 participants involving 157 female students and 143 male students who filled the questionnaire. There were 8 participants who were randomly selected for Interview. Descriptive Statistics (Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 23), Independent sample t-test and ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) are used to analyze data. The findings of this study revealed that there is significant difference between males and females in using strategies for learning vocabulary. Female students most frequently used memory strategies whereas male students use determination strategies. Concerning the most and the least frequently used vocabulary learning strategies, determination strategies are used most frequently, and cognitive strategies are least frequently used by the ESL undergraduate students. Large number of variance is found in the usage of group of strategies for learning vocabulary by the students.