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The Effect of Using the Mother Tongue on Learning Vocabulary in Elementary Levels Compared to Using Dictionary Examples

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The Effect of Using the Mother Tongue on Learning Vocabulary in Elementary Levels Compared to Using Dictionary Examples
(A Research Proposal)
By: Reza Rouhi Rad
Supervisor: PhD Tahriri
May, 2012

Introduction
An inseparable part of learning every language is vocabulary. With poor knowledge of grammar and rules of pronunciation, one can communicate, but having an insufficient knowledge of vocabulary may lead to severe problems. Vocabulary knowledge is the most important component of second language (L2) reading comprehension, even more so than background knowledge and syntax (Laufer, 1997). Because of the vast dominance of vocabulary, teaching such a skill is always viewed as a main concern of language teachers. …show more content…

The results of Hartmann’s (1983) research revealed that more than 50% of students learned vocabulary using bilingual dictionary in their first two years of learning process. In contrast to that, some other students tended to use a monolingual dictionary assuming that such types of dictionaries provide a direct translation to the target language.
On the other hand, translation of words can be helpful in this regard. According to Tang’s (2000) study using L1 translation helps define new vocabulary items better. Translation is useful for L2 acquisition because, firstly, it uses authentic materials, secondly, it is interactive, thirdly, it is learner-centered, and finally it promotes learner autonomy (Mahmoud 2006).
What has been brought up shows that both techniques are used in mastering vocabulary. So, the question that arises here is the tendency toward and selecting one of them as better.

Literature Review
In this part of the study, whatever in the form of research and other pieces of work about mother tongue usage and dictionary utilization as a way of vocabulary improvement in second language classes will be discussed.
Laufer (1990) believed that the use of dictionary should be encouraged under some conditions. She noted that in the case of familiar words in unfamiliar contexts or sentences consulting a dictionary could be helpful. The point in her study was that the type of dictionary used in such cases is

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