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The Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics
[ Article ]
Korea Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 25, No. 0, pp.50-73
ISSN: 1598-1398 (Print) 2586-7474 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Jan 2025
Received 15 Oct 2024 Revised 17 Dec 2024 Accepted 16 Jan 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15738/kjell.25..202501.50

Vocabulary, Grammar, and English Use Experience in Adult Online EFL Learners’ Comprehension: An SEM Approach

Min-Young Song
Associate Professor, Department of Practical Foreign Languages The Cyber University of Korea 106 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu Seoul, Korea, Tel: 02-6361-1863 mysong88@cuk.edu


© 2025 KASELL All rights reserved
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

This study, using structural equation modeling and multiple regression analyses, investigated the contribution of vocabulary and grammar to adult online EFL learners’ listening and reading comprehension. It also examined how their English use experience impacts proficiency in these four areas. Additionally, it explored which subcomponents of vocabulary, grammar, and English use experience significantly influence specific language skills. The main findings are as follows: first, grammar contributed more to L2 comprehension than vocabulary for these generally low-level English learners. Second, their English use experience was quite limited, showing a significant but minimal impact only on vocabulary and grammar. Third, among the four vocabulary levels (Basic and Levels 1~3), Level 2 vocabulary was the strongest predictor for both listening and reading, while different grammar subcomponents were identified as significant for each. Lastly, among the various aspects of English use experience, time spent viewing audiovisual materials and interacting with native speakers were included in the final regression models across language skills. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings were discussed to offer valuable insights into adult online EFL learners, an emerging English learner population.

Keywords:

adult online EFL learners, linguistic knowledge, vocabulary, grammar, listening and reading comprehension, English use experience

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