The Open Applied Linguistics Journal

2009, 2 : 11-21
Published online 2009 January 26. DOI: 10.2174/1874913500902010011
Publisher ID: TOALJ-2-11

The Influence of Language Contact and Vocabulary Knowledge on the Speaking Performance of Japanese Students of English

Taeko Oya , Emmanuel Manalo and Jackie Greenwood
this author at the Student Learning Centre, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of language contact and vocabulary knowledge on the speaking performance of 73 Japanese students in English language schools in New Zealand. The participants completed a language contact profile questionnaire and a vocabulary test, and were administered a story retelling task (which constituted the measure of speaking performance). The results revealed that vocabulary knowledge correlated with fluency, accuracy, complexity, and global impression aspects of speaking performance. Time spent on the following were also found to correlate positively with various aspects of speaking performance: studying English, staying in English-speaking countries, speaking English outside of school, speaking English with non-native English speakers, and reading. In contrast, time spent watching television was found to negatively correlate with speaking accuracy.

Keywords:

English speaking performance, Japanese students, language contact, vocabulary knowledge.