Enhancing EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition through Reading Short Stories

Abstract

The present study aims at investigating the role of reading short stories in enhancing third year students’ vocabulary acquisition at the University of Mohammed Seddik Ben Yahia, Jijel. To achieve that aim, two research tools were used: a questionnaire and a test. The students’ questionnaire aimed at finding out their attitudes towards reading short stories in acquiring vocabulary, whereas the test aimed at measuring the degree of acquiring new vocabulary through reading short stories. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis that if EFL learners read short stories, their vocabulary will be enhanced and developed, showing that most of the students have acquired new vocabulary items after they had read the short stories including those items. Based on those findings, some pedagogical recommendations are suggested for the teaching of vocabulary using short stories.