The effect of semantic clustering on the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative knowledge of vocabulary

Abstract

The present study explored the effects of semantic clustering on the acquisition of vocabulary knowledge. Two methods of vocabulary presentation (and instruction) were taken into account: a) Semantically-related presentation (SRP) which was based on the idea of presenting words in semantic clusters; and b) Semantically-unrelated presentation (SUP) which referred to presenting target words in unrelated sets. The results showed that the learners in the SRP class significantly outperformed their peers in the SUP class in both quantitative and qualitative measures of vocabulary knowledge.In-depth analysis of participants' score variations across levels of vocabulary knowledge also revealed that the SRP method of vocabulary presentation was probably a better facilitator in the learners' progress from a basic familiarity with the target words, to vocabulary knowledge at both reception and production level.The findings of the study are fully discussed and its pedagogical implications for language teachers are drawn upon.