چكيده
While many studies in foreign language learning in Iran have concentrated on developing effective vocabulary instruction methodologies, little research has focused on the ways instructors can encourage Iranian EFL learners towards the vocabulary learning process. Integrating varied teaching styles into vocabulary learning activities may be one way for foreign language educators to help promote vocabulary learning. This experimental study investigated the effect of concept mapping on Iranian EFL learners' vocabulary learning in CALL environment. Placement Test which included vocabulary and reading items was used in order to get homogeneous participants. Sixty selected learners were divided into two homogeneous groups, one experimental group and one control group. They were also given a vocabulary pretest, the purpose of which was to measure the learners’ initial vocabulary knowledge. The treatment procedure took 10 sessions. The 30 students in experimental group were taught vocabulary by concept mapping in CALL environment. In teaching the control group, the teacher gave the vocabulary list. Finally, at the end of the course all the groups sat for the posttest. Then the statistical analysis was run through an independent t-test. The findings revealed that significant difference occurred in the experimental group regarding learners’ vocabulary knowledge. The findings indicated that the EFL teachers can benefit greatly from concept mapping in order to enhance vocabulary knowledge of their students. The results of this study might help the EFL teachers in teaching vocabulary with computer in the schools.
Key Words: CALL environment, concept mapping, vocabulary learning
