Japanese EFL Learners’ Weaknesses and Strengths in Basic Vocabulary Knowledge: Focusing on Good and Poor Spellers

Abstract

　　The main purpose of this paper is to ascertain the findings from Takanami’s (2014, 2015) studies on the difficulties of spelling acquisition among Japanese EFL learners. A total of 34 Japanese university students participated in the present study. Ten test formats including six recall tasks and four recognition tasks, focusing on three fundamental abilities (i.e., decode, spell, and comprehend), were conducted for each target word to examine weaknesses and strengths in basic vocabulary knowledge among the participants. The target words were 33 high-frequency, already learned words. Test-takers’ estimated vocabulary size was tested behorehand. The results of this study confirmed that (a) the productive knowledge of the written form was the most serious deficiency in the basic knowledge of vocabulary acquisition among the learners, (b) 38% of the learners were in the category of poor spellers (S-), and (c) good spellers (S+) are always good decoders (D+) and good comprehenders (C+). This paper concludes that the various test formats succeded in showing the learners’ weaknesses and strengths in basic vocabulary aqcuisition. Thus, specifically designed test formats, which assess learners’ basic knowledge with various perspectives, should be developed for better understanding learners’ fundamental literacy skills.