INCIDENTAL VOCABULARY ACQUISITION THROUGH VIEWING L2 TELEVISION AND FACTORS THAT AFFECT LEARNING
Open accessAbstract
Research has begun to demonstrate that L2 words can be learned incidentally through watching audio-visual materials. Although there are a large number of studies that have investigated incidental vocabulary learning through reading a single text, there are no studies that have explored incidental vocabulary learning through viewing a single full-length TV program. The present study fills this gap. Additionally, three word-related variables (frequency of occurrence, cognateness, word relevance) and one learner-related variable (prior vocabulary knowledge) that might contribute to incidental vocabulary learning were examined. Two experiments were conducted with Dutch-speaking EFL learners to measure the effects of viewing TV on form recognition and meaning recall (Experiment 1) and meaning recognition (Experiment 2). The findings showed that viewing TV resulted in incidental vocabulary learning at the level of meaning recall and meaning recognition. The research also revealed that learning was affected by frequency of occurrence, prior vocabulary knowledge, and cognateness.
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Captioned videos have helped learners at various skill levels to visualize what they have heard, thereby enhancing vocabulary acquisition.
“Captioned videos have helped learners at various skill levels to visualize what they have heard, thereby enhancing vocabulary acquisition (Peters & Webb, 2018; Teng, 2019a, 2019b, 2019c).”
From Vocabulary learning through videos: captions, advance-organizer strategy, and their combination (2022) · cites this paper as Peters & Webb, 2018
Cites
The Effects of Repetition on Vocabulary Knowledge
Webb, S. (2007) · Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1093/applin/aml048 · Cited by 807 · see citing works
Self-citationAt what rate do learners learn and retain new vocabulary from reading a graded reader?
Waring, R., & Takaki, M. (2003) · Reading in a Foreign Language · doi:10.64152/10125/66776 · Cited by 547 · cited 2× · see citing works
“…L2 vocabulary is learned incidentally through viewing a single TV program in the same way that L2 words are learned through reading a single text (e.g., Horst, Cobb, & Meara, 1998; Pellicer-Sánchez & Schmitt, 2010; Saragi, Nation, &Meister, 1978;Waring & Takaki, 2003) remains to be examined.”
BackgroundRECEPTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE VOCABULARY LEARNING: The Effects of Reading and Writing on Word Knowledge
Webb, S. (2005) · Studies in Second Language Acquisition · doi:10.1017/s0272263105050023 · Cited by 527 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Research suggests that measuring multiple aspects of vocabulary knowledge is likely to provide a more accurate evaluation of learning (e.g., Webb, 2005, 2009a, 2009b).”
BackgroundSelf-citationRott, S. (1999) · Studies in Second Language Acquisition · doi:10.1017/s0272263199004039 · Cited by 475 · see citing works
Neuman, S. B., & Koskinen, P. (1992) · Reading Research Quarterly · doi:10.2307/747835 · Cited by 362 · see citing works
Computing the vocabulary demands of L2 reading
Cobb, T. (2007) · Language Learning & Technology · doi:10.64152/10125/44117 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Effects of captioning on video comprehension and incidental vocabulary learning
Montero Perez, M., Peters, E., Clarebout, G., & Desmet, P. (2014) · Language Learning & Technology · doi:10.64152/10125/44357 · Cited by 223 · cited 5× · see citing works
“Although there is some evidence that L2 vocabulary might be learned incidentally through watching short, educational video clips (e.g., Montero Perez, Peters, Clarebout, & Desmet, 2014; Neuman & Koskinen, 1992), no study has investigated whether it is possible to incidentally learn new words through watching a single,…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSelf-citationIncidental EFL vocabulary learning and reading
Day, R. R., Omura, C., & Hiramatsu, M. (1991) · Reading in a Foreign Language · doi:10.64152/10125/67035 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Assessing vocabulary size through multiple-choice formats: Issues with guessing and sampling rates
Gyllstad, H., Vilkaitė, L., & Schmitt, N. (2015) · ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1075/itl.166.2.04gyl · Cited by 164 · see citing works
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Vocabulary learning through videos: captions, advance-organizer strategy, and their combination
Teng, (. F. (2022) · Computer Assisted Language Learning · doi:10.1080/09588221.2020.1720253 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Lee, S.-M. (2023) · ReCALL · doi:10.1017/s0958344022000209 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
An empirical study of the effects of incidental vocabulary learning through listening to songs
Nie, K., Fu, J., Rehman, H., & Zaigham, G. H. K. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.891146 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
A Review on Studies into Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition through Different Input
Tang, Z. (2020) · English Language Teaching · doi:10.5539/elt.v13n6p89 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Kyle Lai, K.-W., & Howard Chen, H.-J. (2025) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2025.105343 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Spaced vocabulary acquisition while incidental listening by ESL university students
Zubenko, T., Gavrylenko, A., Zhyvotovska, T., & Vasylieva, N. (2022) · Advanced Education · doi:10.20535/2410-8286.250501 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Tadayonifar, M., & Entezari, M. (2026) · Language Teaching Research · doi:10.1177/13621688261452314
- Authors
- Peters, E., & Webb, S.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Western University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Peters, Elke
- Venue
- Studies in Second Language Acquisition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2018-01-30
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 551-577
- ISSN
- 0272-2631 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-1545
- OpenAlex
- W2790358757
- Cited by
- 423
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 67.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- lirias.kuleuven.be
- Licence
- Locations
- Studies in Second Language Acquisition (publishedVersion)
- Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Scholarship@Western (Western University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Subtitles and Audiovisual Media
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Keywords
- incidental vocabulary learning, second language vocabulary, television viewing, audiovisual input, word frequency, shape recognition, meaning recall, meaning recognition
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