Perceptions of 8th graders and EFL teachers concerning L2 vocabulary learning strategies

Although vocabulary is an indispensable part of foreign language learning and it is acknowledged that it is of paramount importance in language learning and teaching, it is still learnt and taught by some traditional vocabulary learning strategies. As the learning process requires not only learners' but also teachers' efforts , the current study gathered both of their perceptions about vocabulary learning strategies under a single roof. Hence, it aimed to investigate and compare the perceptions of teachers and learners regarding the importance and application of vocabulary learning strategies. In this study, mixed methods sequential explanatory design was applied . The research group consisted of 398 8th grade EFL students and 26 EFL teachers from 15 different secondary schools in Hatay. In order to collect quantitative data, student and teacher version of VLS questionnaires which were based on Schmitt's taxonomy of VLS were conducted at first. Then, semi-structured interviews with 9 volunteer teachers and focus group interviews with 45 volunteer student participants were carried out in order to obtain qualitative data. The quantitative data were analysed via Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) edition 22. In order to anlayse and interpret the qualitative data, thematic analysis was utilized. The findings of this study revealed that EFL learners and teachers attribute a great level of importance to vocabulary learning and teaching. As for application of those strategies, it was found out that the strategies that are given most importance were applied on a larger scale by learners. However, teachers seems to have difficulty in implemeting the strategies that they consider more important. Some factors such as intensity of the curriculum, the course book that insufficient in meeting the needs, exam-oriented instruction to 8th graders, limited weekly course hours, lack of equipments and indifferent learners to learning were determined to restrain teachers to instruct different kinds of VLS. Furthermore, the strategies instructed by teachers were found to be utilized widely by their students. Keywords: Vocabulary learning, vocabulary learning and teaching strategies, strategy instruction, learner and teacher perceptions