The Development Ability and English Vocabulary Development

Abstract

           The purpose of this study was to use southern local context reading materials to enhance English reading ability, English vocabulary, and vocabulary retention by comparing the reading ability of students studying English reading skills by using southern local context texts with that of those using general reading texts. The study also investigated English vocabulary development and students’ opinions toward the use of southern local context texts. It was found that: the English reading ability of both control and experimental groups significantly increased (p=0.01) but there were no significant differences when compared between the two groups. The experimental group could develop vocabulary at 50.5 percent, but they could not retain the vocabulary level. The experimental group highly agreed with the use of southern context texts in reading skills practice, and favored the teaching process, and the reading activities.