Contents introduction chapter I investigating effects of working memory training on foreign language development

Graph 1. Overall Research Procedure

The methodology of this research study as described above, yielded the following results described below:

1. Interview designed to find out learners’ perceptions towards vocabulary retention and learning English in general.

The interview administered at the beginning of this study with 50 students, from both the experimental and control group, obtained the learners’ perceptions with regards to the possible techniques applied to retain vocabulary seen in lessons and how effective they have been for them. The survey questions were written in Spanish to facilitate and elicit students’ real
thoughts and to make them feel calm when responding. Consequently, the graphs below show the original questions in Spanish to expedite their analysis and presentation.

Question 1. ¿Qué haces para retener y recordar información, conceptos, vocabulario en Inglés?Graph 2. Survey Question Number 1

Graph 2 shows the different answers from the students in the question number 1. It can be observed that in order to retain and remember information, concepts and vocabulary in English 28 students mentioned that they tend to write the word repeatedly. 10 students stated that pronouncing the word out loud helps them remember it better, 7 students used examples containing the words to be retrieved and 3 students claimed that reading and listening to music contributes to word retention.

Question 2. En caso afirmativo en la pregunta 1, por favor describe brevemente la técnica que usas para aprender vocabulario en Inglés.

Graph 3. Survey Question Number 2

Graph 3 illustrates the different answers from the students in the question number 2. It can be seen that 24 students described their technique by means of the use the dictionary to remember words and 10 students described their technique in terms of drill writing and another 10 students’ description was related to pronouncing the word out loud. Moreover, 2 students explained their technique through the use of direct translation, 3 students tended to associate words with objects and only 1 student described the drawing technique.