چكيده
A demanding area of foreign language learning is vocabulary acquisition whose significance has always been emphasized by the researchers in the field. The present study is a quantitative exploration of the effect of employing 504 Narcis software package on Iranian introvert vs. extrovert EFL learners' lexical knowledge. To this end, 120 intermediate EFL learners participated in the study. To ensure their homogeneity and assessing participants' language proficiency level at the beginning of the study, initially, the researcher administered an English language test of general proficiency, Intermediate Nelson Test. This test is used for the purpose of achieving homogeneity. Then, Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS) was given to the learners .After excluding the extreme scores, 100 participants remained. The participants were then given 24 Eysenck Personality Test (YES/NO) to categorize them into extrovert and introvert learners. So, students were assigned to two experimental and two control groups. The experimental groups received the treatment which included the use of a vocabulary learning software named “Narcis”, based on the book entitled “504 Absolutely Essential Words”, over a one- month-period of time to observe whether their vocabulary acquisition would improve. The control group was taught the same vocabulary using the “504 Absolutely Essential Words” course-book. After the treatment, another vocabulary test was given to both groups as the post-test. The analysis of the results of two types of treatment (modern and traditional) showed the participants receiving the treatment in the experimental groups did not outperform the participants in the control group. In fact, there is no significant difference between means scores of posttest by software and traditional vocabulary teaching. This study showed that Personality types (introvert vs. extrovert) have no effect on Iranian EFL learners' vocabulary learning. It was also revealed that there is no significant interactional effect between treatment and personality type. The result of this study may be helpful for Iranian English teachers to study other software to teaching essential vocabulary, especial for intermediate students.
Key Terms: CALL, Extrovert, Introvert, Narcis software package, Vocabulary Knowledge.
