Vocabulary Acquisition through Picture Description: A Mixed Design Study

Abstract

Vocabulary acquisition is one field of study that represents a concern for researchers. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the results from the implementation of picture description strategy for vocabulary acquisition. This research is a mixed design study that combined quantitative and qualitative instruments: a Likert type survey, a pre and post-test for vocabulary knowledge, and a pre and post-test for vocabulary use in context. These instruments collected information from ten students of an English language school. The process of analyzing the results included running the SPSS software to obtain the media and determine improvement after the study. The results from the instruments (Vocabulary knowledge test and vocabulary in context test) indicated that, using picture description as a strategy to acquire vocabulary was successful. Students learnt more words, and, after the study, they were confident to use previous and new vocabulary. The findings are significant for teachers of English language and contributes to the field of vocabulary learning in teenagers through applying picture description activities.