Incidental and intentional vocabulary learning: a case study of Meaning-Given, Meaning-Inferred with MC, and Pure Meaning-Inferred methods on the retention of l2 word meanings in a Chinese University

This paper reports a case study investigating and comparing three word-learning methods [i.e. Meaning-Given, Meaning-Inferred with Multiple Choices (Meaning-Inferred with MC as below), and Pure Meaning-Inferred] in two modes of learning (i.e. incidental and intentional learning, ICL & ITL respectively as below) in terms of the retention of L2 word meanings in a Chinese University. Findings suggest that the mode of ITL led to significantly higher retention than the mode of ICL did. However, in terms of different word-learning methods, different results appeared. It has been suggested that it is crucial for teachers to balance the use of the two learning modes, input more modifications directing students to process the lexical information more elaborately, and put more emphasis on the functions of rehearsal and reactivation of new lexical information.