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Project

ExpoVoc: Exposure to English and vocabulary learning: the unique case of young English-as-a-foreign-language learners in Flanders

Exposure to foreign language (FL) input has proven to be beneficial for language acquisition. Usage-based models of language learning have stressed the key role of frequency and salience in input. However, little is known about the effect of exposure on vocabulary learning by young learners without any formal instruction in English. This project examines the effect of out-of-class exposure to English on the vocabulary knowledge of 12-year old learners in Flanders. Unlike their peers in other European countries, learners in Flanders only start learning English in school at the age of 13-14, as it is their second FL after French. Yet, they have already been exposed to large amounts of English at a young age. The use of new tests and in-depth case studies will allow us to determine the extent to which vocabulary acquisition may occur through exposure to different types of English language input and which learner-related and language-related factors might influence this learning process.
Date:1 Oct 2017 →  30 Sep 2021
Keywords:out-of-class exposure, vocabulary, English, media
Disciplines:Instructional sciences, Language studies, Literary studies