A Challenge for English Learners and Teachers: Students' English Vocabulary Knowledge and Vocabulary Learning Strategies

Abstract

Technical vocabulary in business English has been challenging for EFL learners in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course. This study focuses on the students' vocabulary learning strategies and their understanding of English vocabulary selected from one of their ESP courses, Business Correspondence (BC). The participants were 30 university students in their third semester. In addition to the students' scores obtained from the final test of Business Correspondence course, the researchers used five-point self-report Vocabulary Knowledge Scale and Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire. The results of the study indicate that students' vocabulary knowledge in relation to business English is low, the students' vocabulary knowledge has no significant correlation with their comprehension on Business Correspondence and only determination strategies are significantly correlated with the students' vocabulary knowledge. The paper concludes with the discussion of implications for teaching and learning ESP vocabulary. This will benefit both the students and the teachers of ESP course in improving their understanding of the importance of vocabulary in business English.