ESTIMATING THE RECEPTIVE VOCABULARY SIZE OF L1 PAKISTANI ESP FASHION DESIGN LEARNERS

Abstract

This study explored the vocabulary size of L1 Pakistani undergraduate (1^st semester) learners enrolled at the National Textile University in Faisalabad. A convenient sampling method was employed to select the population, resulting in 97 participants (77 females and 20 males). Various vocabulary size tests were used to assess the learners' vocabulary knowledge. However, this study employed the quantitative method, specifically the monolingual version of Nation and Beglar's (2007) Vocabulary Size Test (VST), to determine the receptive vocabulary size of a group of 97 English as a foreign language learner (EFL) who speak Urdu as their first language (L1) and to investigate the impact of gender on vocabulary size. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and the T-test was performed to calculate the means and standard deviations for each test item. The independent sample T-test was used to examine the difference between male and female vocabulary size. The key findings of this study revealed that the vocabulary size of ESP Pakistani learners was approximately 3,800-word families. Additionally, females scored higher than males in vocabulary size, although this difference was not statistically significant. These results can be utilized to develop syllabi for educational purposes, particularly in the areas of significant vocabulary building and reading. Further research is warranted in light of these findings, with a larger sample size drawn from diverse regions of Pakistan to obtain more definitive results.