Introduction
For learners who are studying English as a second language, it is important to know the vocabulary. Firstly, it is essential to develop the vocabulary to understand other people and correctly interpret their words. Secondly, it is useful to increase the lexicon because it will help to convey information correctly and accurately.
Summary and Assessment
Thus, a study was conducted where the vocabulary knowledge of English of 92 students in Saudi Arabia was investigated. Two tests, ‘Eurocentres’ and ‘XK_Lex’, were applied in order to obtain a reliable result. The research showed that students need to learn English in order to speak on their own, as their current vocabulary averages 2,000 to 3,000 words when they enter university and up to 5,000 words after graduation. However, if the testing is critically evaluated, the disadvantages include only a male sample and two university levels. Additionally, both examinations use the Yes/No technique, which does not accurately evaluate students’ knowledge (Milton & Al-Masrai, 2012). It is also essential to perceive that students must choose in 10 minutes only from 100 words they know, so there is a high opportunity to guess.
Response to the Presentation
Vocabulary level is indeed directly related to the ability to speak a foreign language. However, it is not easy to make large-scale conclusions based on two tests and a male sample from two universities. The topic of the study is highly relevant and valuable, so more methods should have been applied, and more students should have participated (Milton & Al-Masrai, 2012). In general, the article’s expectations and conclusions coincide and help identify the problematic points, but their scale is not enough to fully assess the situation.
Conclusion
The article is essential to read because it helped assess the progress in language learning at different universities. This is a key point at a time when foreign languages have become a necessity for everyone. The results have shown that despite the high vocabulary level, some problems, such as lagging behind the academic standards, are still evident in the universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia. Identifying these obstacles will stimulate developments in the curriculum and changes in some of the admission requirements.
Reference
Milton, J., & Al-Masrai, A. (2012). The vocabulary knowledge of university students in Saudi Arabia. TESOL Arabia Perspectives, 19(3), 13-19.