Implementing Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy as a Catalyst in Fostering Students Vocabulary Learning A Case Study of First Year EFL Students at Chadli Bendjedid University –El Tarf-

Abstract

This study is mainly about fostering English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ vocabulary knowledge through the implementation of vocabulary self-collection strategy (VSS) at Chadli Bendjedid University.. It can be declared that vocabulary self collection strategy will give the students the ability to use the learned words in different contexts and use them in writing and conversations. However, vocabulary self collection strategy is an important tool to build a course and promotes an interactive learning environment and will help the students to feel involved and enthusiastic when they complete the course. Through the implementation of VSS 30 first year undergraduate English students participated in this study .To determine the students’ vocabulary knowledge improvement, a vocabulary post-test was employed as a final test conducted at the end of VSS instruction to elicit students’ vocabulary growth; besides, a classroom observation was conducted while implementing the VSS to highlight students appreciations and their behaviors vis –a-vis this strategy in the classroom. The results indicated that the sample population under study improved short-term vocabulary retention, and they could retain vocabulary learned after VSS instruction. The observation showed that they mostly agreed that VSS instruction assisted them in learning new words, memorizing word meanings, having a chance to choose their own words to learn, sharing words with classmates, working in groups, and experiencing an enjoyable learning atmosphere. This research, hence, will help Chadli Bendjedid EFL students optimize their vocabulary learning and generate an innovative body of knowledge if VSS is entirely and adequately adopted in vocabulary instruction. Some recommendations were suggested for EFL teachers who want to implement VSS in their vocabulary instruction.