Thai Business English Students’ Receptive Vocabulary Size and Its Relationship to the Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies

Abstract

This research investigated business English students’ receptive vocabulary size and their use of vocabulary learning strategies. The study also aimed to examine the relationship between the students’ receptive vocabulary size and their vocabulary learning strategies. The units of analysis were 59 second-year business English students who were attending a university in Trang Province, Thailand. Two research instruments were utilized i.e. an English-Thai receptive vocabulary size test and a questionnaire regarding vocabulary learning strategies. Findings revealed that the students’ average receptive vocabulary size was approximately 4,897 words, which was insufficient for effective listening. The students used the vocabulary learning strategies at a moderate level. Determination strategies were the type most frequently employed by the students. Furthermore, 11 out of 39 vocabulary learning strategies were highly employed by them to acquire vocabulary. The achievers with a high vocabulary size employed two strategies contributing to their receptive vocabulary size while their counterparts with a low vocabulary size used only one such strategy. The students’ receptive vocabulary size was positively and significantly (p<0.05) correlated with vocabulary learning strategies  (rs=.241-.470).