A Comparative Study of Teaching L2 Vocabulary with and without Illustrations to Virtual EFL Learners

Abstract

Second language learning research suggests that visual aids and illustrations have the potential to enhance proficiency and retention of vocabulary terms in a foreign language. This study builds off of this literature by studying Native English speakers learning of Polish words using images versus no images. This quantitative study compares the effectiveness of 2 learning methods within groups that studied 10 vocabulary terms in Polish: (1) participants studying with virtual flashcards with illustrations, and (2) participants studying with virtual flashcards without illustrations. After a 10-minute virtual tutorial, participants were asked to fill out a Google form that measured their vocabulary retention. They were then asked to fill out the same Google form after 5 days. Keywords: Audio-aided flashcards, Flashcards, L2 vocabulary learning, Pandemic, Proficiency, Retainment, Virtual learning conditions, Visual aid