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University of North Dakota

ELL vocabulary acquisition: How improvement measurements are affected by text type, English reading ability, and assessment methods

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Vocabulary acquisition is a crucial part of language learning. This study seeks to determine what textual and student factors affect vocabulary acquisition rates from reading English texts for high school students for whom English is a second language, as well as how assessment factors affect the measurement of vocabulary acquisition. In this study, vocabulary acquisition was measured by comparing the differences between pre-test and post-test scores from before and after reading different texts. Text type did not affect student outcomes, but the improvement rates were affected by students' pre-test scores, students' English reading ability, and the types of assessment questions. This study indicates that targeted reading can be a great tool to help students acquire specific vocabulary, and that targeted reading is beneficial for students with different English reading abilities. The results also indicate that teachers who serve English language learners should pay close attention to the assessment methods they use and be aware that different assessment methods measure learning differently.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (MA)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Linguistics
Year
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Magnus, JoEllen
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Diana D. Weber

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://commons.und.edu/theses/1450
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:commons.und.edu:theses-2451

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of North Dakota
Base URL
commons.und.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Magnus, JoEllen. ELL vocabulary acquisition: How improvement measurements are affected by text type, English reading ability, and assessment methods. Thesis thesis, 2013. https://commons.und.edu/theses/1450