VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES USED BY KUWAITI STUDENTS

The use of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) by Kuwaiti EFL students at various educational levels is examined in this thesis. The study focuses on the effects of three learner variables: gender, level of education, and vocabulary proficiency level. Open-ended questionnaires, Semi-structured interviews and diaries were applied to elicit valuable data for this study. Participants included 455 Kuwaiti male and female students aged 15-23 years studying English at the intermediate, high school, and university levels. An additional 40 male students completed diaries and interviews regarding their English VLS. The study identified three approaches participants used to learn vocabulary: discovery, note-taking, and memorisation. Findings revealed differences in the use of VLS by males and females and by students at different levels of education. This study is the first to identify how Kuwaiti EFL students learn vocabulary and provides valuable knowledge for educators on how to best structure language learning aligned with the strategies that students are most likely to use.