Channels, Fall 2017

Channels • 2017 • Volume 3 • Number 1 Page 39 Keywords and sentences For the Keyword Method, a keyword and a sentence relating it to the translation of the target word were created by the researcher. Some research has claimed that instructor- provided keywords either aid retention more than student-generated keywords (Hall, Wilson, & Patterson, 1981), or equally as student-generated keywords (Cohen, 1987; Wei, 2015); however, research on this aspect of the Keyword Method has produced mixed results (Sagarra & Alba, 2006). For the purpose of this study, the keywords were created by the researcher in order to conserve instruction time and equalize the results. Each sentence was then put on a presentation slide, the keyword being in bold text and the translation in italics. Accompanying each sentence was a photo that visualized the keyword. Samples of the keywords and sentences used in this current study are included in Appendix C. Procedure Instruction procedure Groups A and B were each actually tested in four groups of 1-3 individuals in order to find times which were available to the participants. However, I created and followed a speaking script and timed the sections of each session to assimilate the instruction that each participant received. Instruction and testing for each group occurred during two sessions a week apart, the first lasting for about an hour and the second for 15 minutes. During Session 1, participants were welcomed and instructed to not write anything down during the session, and the two methods of study were explained. The participants were also asked to attempt to use the given methods when studying each set of words, rather than relying on any personal strategies they may have had. Then the participants were given a pretest including the 20 target words to ensure that they were all novel words. After this, words 1-10 were presented for a total of 10 minutes by means of the proper method according to whether the participants were in Group A or B. With the L1 Context Embedding Method, participants were read the anecdote, including the target vocabulary words and their translations, by the researcher, and then received a copy of the text to read and study on their own for the remainder of the time. With the Keyword Method, each slide and target word was presented and explained by the researcher, then the slides were cycled through a second time for the remainder of the 10 minutes. After 10 minutes the texts were removed or the slides were taken down and the participants were given a three- minute break before having five minutes to take the immediate post-test. This same procedure was then repeated with words 11-20 and the second method. At the end of Session 1 the participants were requested to not discuss the nature or details of the testing with their classmates who had not yet undergone the study. Session 2 only consisted of a delayed post-test. Participants had 15 minutes to recall the translations for as many of the 20 target words as possible. Participants were thanked for their assistance and reminded that their data would be kept confidential and that the researcher would share the results of the study with them.