Examining the Role of Breadth and Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge in Reading Comprehension of English Language Learners

Abstract

This study explored the effect of English language learners’ breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge on their understanding and grades of reading English texts. Sixty-one Jordanian EFL undergraduates were assigned three tests, which were the Vocabulary Levels Test Version 2 (VLT), the Word Associates Test (WAT), and Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The collected data was analysed utilizing Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. According to the empirical outcomes, breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge correlated positively with each other and with reading comprehension. Further, the significant predictor of the overall variance of reading comprehension was vocabulary depth, while the breadth of vocabulary knowledge was the less significant one. The results demonstrate the importance of expanding and deepening EFL learners’ vocabulary knowledge in classrooms. Keywords: Vocabulary Depth, Vocabulary Breadth, Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge, Vocabulary Levels Test, Reading Comprehension.