UNLOCKING VOCABULARY: EMPOWERING LEARNERS THROUGH COLLIGATION-BASED DISCOVERY

Аннотация

This study investigates the effectiveness of a colligation-focused inductive approach in enhancing learners' vocabulary acquisition, retention, and autonomy. Traditional vocabulary instruction often relies on rote memorization and decontextualized word lists, which can be ineffective for developing accurate and fluent language use. Understanding colligations, the grammatical company a word keeps, is crucial for mastering vocabulary in context. This quasi-experimental study involved 60 intermediate English language learners, divided into an experimental group receiving colligation-based inductive instruction and a control group receiving traditional vocabulary instruction. Data was collected through pre-tests, post-tests, delayed post-tests, and learner questionnaires. Results indicate that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in vocabulary knowledge and retention. Furthermore, qualitative data from the questionnaires revealed that learners in the experimental group reported increased awareness of colligational patterns, improved accuracy in word usage, and a greater sense of autonomy in their vocabulary learning. This study highlights the potential of colligation-based inductive learning to empower learners and enhance their vocabulary mastery. Key words: Inductive approach, vocabulary, innovative approach, fluent, idiomatic methods, word pairings, vocabulary acquisition.