Comparing Useful Words in Second Language Adult Learners’ Writings with BNC Wordlist: A Prototype Approach

Nor Arifah Mohd Nor; Wardatul Akmam Din; Irma Wani Othman; Norazah Mohd Suki

doi:10.51200/ljms.v8i.3018

Authors

Nor Arifah Mohd Nor Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Wardatul Akmam Din Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Irma Wani Othman Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Norazah Mohd Suki Labuan Faculty of International Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51200/ljms.v8i.3018

Keywords:

word list, writing skill, adult students, concordance

Abstract

This research focusses on the preliminary investigation of vocabulary knowledge on teachers undergoing the Teacher Graduate Programme (PPG) in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). By conducting this research it is possible to determine whether these teachers are familiar with the same set of words listed in BNC therefore have sufficient vocabulary knowledge which they most probably impart to their students. Forty-four adult students
wer. e asked to write an English essay based on the topic given by the teacher. Soft copies of their essays were compiled and converted to .txt files which were then transferred and analyzed using the Simple Concordance Program 4.0.9 List of words in BNC (refer rank frequency order cited in ucrel.lancs.ac.uk/bncfreq/flists.html, Oct. 23, 2014)and list of words based on frequency gathered from the essays of the PPG students were then compared. It is found that the a dult students arcompetence in using words that are common in BNC wordlist.