A Study on Vocabulary-Learning Problems Encountered by BA English Majors at the University Level of Education
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Abstract
Proficiency in English language depends on the knowledge of its vocabulary possessed by the second and foreign language learners and even the native speakers. Though developing the vocabulary is vital, it poses several problems, especially, to non-native students of English. Students with a low vocabulary knowledge show weak academic performance in different courses related to the language skills, linguistics, literature, and translation at the university level of education. This study, in particular, aims to investigate the problems faced by English majors in learning the vocabulary at Prince Stattam bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU) in Saudi Arabia. It also puts forward some vocabulary-learning strategies to minimize the potential problems. The data consist of the responses of 100 student-participants (undergraduates) randomly picked up from five different levels (four, five, six, seven, and eight) of 4-Year BA English Program at PSAU. This quantitative study uses an online questionnaire, as an instrument, to collect the data. The results reveal that the English majors at PSAU face several problems in learning the vocabulary such as knowing the meanings of new words, pronouncing new words, using new words correctly, memorizing and spelling new vocabulary and so on. To its contribution, this study emphasizes the importance of learning the English vocabulary, draws students' attention towards it, highlights the problems encountered by students, and raises their awareness of the vocabulary. Future research may explore teachers' perspectives on students' vocabulary-learning problems and instructional methods implemented to teach the vocabulary in English language classrooms.
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Saudi EFL learners face difficulties in vocabulary acquisition due to limited English exposure outside the classroom and linguistic differences between Arabic and English.
“Saudi EFL learners face difficulties in vocabulary acquisition due to limited English exposure outside the classroom and linguistic differences between Arabic and English (Afzal, 2019;Altalhab, 2019).”
From Integrating ChatGPT for vocabulary learning and retention: A classroom-based study of Saudi EFL learners (2025) · cites this paper as Afzal, 2019
The Abstract (p. 1) reports vocabulary-learning difficulties among BA English majors at a Saudi university. It does not attribute those difficulties to limited English exposure outside the classroom or differences between Arabic and English, and its findings concern those students rather than Saudi EFL learners generally (searched: exposure, Arabic). (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Abdelhalim, S. M., & Alsehibany, R. (2025) · Language Learning & Technology · doi:10.64152/10125/73635 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“In the Saudi EFL context, research has focused on vocabulary size, acquisition challenges, and learning strategies (Afzal, 2019; Alshammari, 2020).”
Ayana, H., Mereba, T., & Alemu, A. (2024) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2024.1399350 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Afzal, N.
- Affiliations
- Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (SA)
- Corresponding author
- Afzal, Naeem
- ORCID
- Afzal, Naeem
- Venue
- Arab World English Journal
- Publisher
- AWEJ Publishing
- Published
- 2019-09-15
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 81-98
- ISSN
- 2229-9327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2977111772
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 15.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Arab World English Journal (publishedVersion)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- SocArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- SocArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Keywords
- English vocabulary, English majors, non-native English learners, vocabulary learning strategies, word pronunciation, vocabulary knowledge, English as a foreign language, university students
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