ABSTRACT

Learning vocabulary is a challenging task for female English as a foreign language (EFL) students. Thus, improving students’ knowledge of vocabulary is critical if they are to make progress in learning a new language. The current study aimed at exploring the vocabulary learning strategies used by EFL students at Northern Border University (NBU). It also aimed to identify the mechanisms applied by EFL students at NBU University to learn vocabulary. It also aimed at evaluating the approaches adopted by EFL female students at Northern Border University (NBU) to learn a language. The study adopted the descriptive-analytical method. Two research instruments were developed to collect data namely, a survey questionnaire on vocabulary learning strategies was used to collect data from the students on the strategies that they used to learn vocabulary. Also, the researcher used a semi-structured interview to assess and collect qualitative data about the effectiveness of the vocabulary learning strategies used by EFL students at NBU University. Results of this study revealed that the students preferred the cognitively demanding techniques over the techniques currently in use, along with the memory strategies. The study also showed that social strategies are rarely implemented in teaching vocabulary these days.