The Effect of Working Memory Training on Vocabulary Recall and Retention of Iranian EFL Learners: The Case of Dual N-Back Task

Journal of Teaching English Lnaguage Studies

مقاله 3، دوره 6، شماره 4، شهریور 2018، صفحه 55-63   

نویسنده

Mojtaba Marashi^*

Department of English Language Teaching, Khouzestan Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

چکیده

This study examined the effect of working memory training on vocabulary recall and retention of
Iranian EFL learners using dual N-back task technique. To this end, 50 EFL learners at Islamic
Azad University of Shoushtar were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 25) and control (n
= 25) groups. Before the treatment, a vocabulary test was administered to the participants to assess
the participants’ vocabulary knowledge of the target words. The participants were taught 100
English words in 20 sessions. In each session, the experimental group also received dual n-back
task to train the participants’ working memory. At the end and three weeks after the last treatment
session, the vocabulary test was administered. The obtained data were analyzed through two-way
repeated measure ANOVA and independent samples t-tests. The results showed that the
experimental group outperformed the control group in target words’ recall and retention.
Implications arising from the findings and suggestions for further research are also explained.

کلیدواژه‌ها

dual n-back task, EFL learners, working memory training, vocabulary recall؛ Vocabulary Retention

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