LEXICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ESL LEARNERS THROUGH DERIVATIONAL AFFIXES AT SECONDARY LEVEL: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Vocabulary learning is crucial for second language acquisition, particularly for ESL learners in secondary public schools in Pakistan. Owing to this need present quantitative study was conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan. Quasi-experimental design following pre-post independent and paired sample t-test, was used. Sample of 80 female ESL learners of secondary school was divided into experimental and control group having 40 ESL learners in each. The experimental group was taught through the use of derivational affixes focusing on root words also whereas the control group was taught through the traditional method. After the intervention, the experimental group as compared to the control group, showed statistically significant growth in lexical development. The results and findings show that use of affixation is a helpful strategy for vocabulary learning and recommend that it should be included in the curriculum as a teaching strategy for vocabulary learning.