چكيده
In the field of second language acquisition (SLA), vocabulary knowledge has an important and distinctive role; it has a vital role in almost all skills and fields of learning English. The present study investigated the effect of using a new instructional tool, WordNet, on Persian EFL learnersʹ vocabulary learning and retention. WordNet is an electronic dictionary based on the structure of the mental lexicon, and semantic field theory. English words are grouped as synonym sets in this dictionary and semantic relations like Hypernymy, Hyponymy, Meronymy, etc. exist among the synonym sets (Synsets). These semantic relations make this dictionary different from traditional ones. The researcher wanted to see the effect of using the semantic network of WordNet on EFL learnersʹ vocabulary learning. No one has used this dictionary for teaching vocabulary items in the EFL context so far. It is also in line with the new approach to instruction, i. e., Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) that is nowadays considerable in EFL. For the purpose of this study, the researcher conducted a quasi-experimental research and included two control and experimental groups of forty participants at an intermediate level of proficiency. The treatment sessions lasted for nine weeks. She taught ten units of ʹʹVocabulary in Use ʹʹto the learners during the treatment sessions. The only difference between two groups was related to the presentation of vocabulary items and dictionary use; in the experimental group, it was based on WordNet and its semantic relations; in the control group, it was based on traditional dictionary and wordlist. The result of the immediate and delayed post- tests showed that, the participants in the experimental group had a higher performance than the control group. Furthermore, a Likert scale questionnaire was given to the experimental group at the end of the treatment to investigate their opinions about the new instructional tool. Almost all learners had a positive opinion about WordNet and preferred to use it instead of a traditional dictionary. The findings of this research were in line with those researches in which the participants had a higher performance in learning vocabulary items presented via semantic fields.
