Enhancing audio-visual input in order to foster second language learners depth of lexical knowledge.

This project investigates the effectiveness of three enhancement techniques for audio-visual input in order to foster French as a second language learners’ (native language = Dutch) depth of lexical knowledge. Depth refers to the quality of word knowledge or the degree to which learners know a word. Complete mastery of a lexical item thus entails learning a series of interconnected partial knowledge components(e.g. word form, meaning, use). So far, research has mainly focused on the effects of enhancing written input on students’ lexical learning and few studies have addressed the potential of audiovisual input for promoting word learning. In addition, studies have often exclusively assessed students’ knowledge of word meaning, which may provide an incomplete picture of the actual effectiveness of a particular treatment. I focus on three enhancement techniques. Each technique will be investigated in an experimental study. The first technique, type of on-screen text, refers to audiovisual input enhanced with full captions (L2 subtitles), keyword captions, glossed keyword captions, and L1 subtitles. The second technique is repeated target word exposure, operationalized through repeatedly viewing a clip and repeatedly encountering a word within a clip. The third technique refers to pre-teaching target words before video exposure. A mixed-method approach, consisting of vocabulary tests at different levels of sensitivity and one-on-one interview sessions, will be used.