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Second language acquisition of Mandarin Chinese vocabulary: context of learning effects

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Abstract

In an increasingly multilingual world, it is important to examine methods that may lead to more efficient second language learning, as well as to analyze the mechanisms by which successful learning occurs. The purpose of the current study was to investigate how different learning contexts can impact the learning of Mandarin Chinese as a second language. Two contexts [virtual environment (VE) vs. traditional learning environment] were compared and examined from cognitive and linguistic perspectives. Thirty-one monolingual English speakers participated in a training study consisting of seven learning and testing sessions, followed by one additional sessions of delayed post-testing. The participants’ behavioral performances with regard to accuracy, reaction time, and exposure were collected and analyzed. Through analyses of variance and mixed-effects modeling, the current study shows that the learning trajectory of the participants in the VE showed a larger acceleration than that of those in the traditional learning context, which suggests that simulated embodied experience in the VE may have aided in the processing of a second language, especially with regard to enhancing the learning trajectory in short-term second language training.

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Notes

  1. To ensure that the difference between the 2D line drawings and the 3D color pictures did not affect the learning outcome, we recruited a separate group of participants in a picture naming experiment. Thirty-four participants named the 2D line drawings and the 3D color pictures in separated blocks and the order of the blocks were counter-balanced. The corresponding name agreement score was .91 (i.e., 91% of the time the two different types of pictures yielding the same names). The correlation of name agreement score was .83 (i.e., the same picture that has high name agreement in 2D line drawings also has high name agreement in 3D color pictures). There is no significant different on name agreement scores between the two types of pictures; t(178) =.087, p > .05.

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Acknowledgments

We would like thank Yu-Ting Hsiao, Yu-Hsuan Kan, Indy Majere, and Luis Tzeng for their assistance with constructing the VEs in Second Life, and Karishma Kodia, Sarah Newby, Evan Oliver, Shinmin Wang for their assistance with running the experiment. The research was supported by funds from the Aim for Top University Office of the National Taiwan Normal University, the Joint Advanced Center for the Study of Learning Sciences (MOST 104-2911-I-003-301), and the US National Science Foundation (BCS-1338946).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chinese Language and Culture, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yu-Ju Lan

  2. Department of Psychology and Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Shin-Yi Fang, Jennifer Legault & Ping Li

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  1. Yu-Ju Lan
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  2. Shin-Yi Fang
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  3. Jennifer Legault
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ping Li.

Appendix

Appendix

Chinese word

English translation

Kitchen

掃把 (saoba)a

Broom

手套 (shoutao)

Mitten

蠟燭 (lazhu)

Candle

剪刀 (jiandao)

Scissor

鏟子 (chanzi)

Spatula

抽屜 (chouti)

Drawer

鍋蓋 (guogai)

Lid

鉗子 (qianzi)

Tong

漏斗 (loudou)

Funnel

濾網 (luwang)

Strainer

餐桌 (canzhuo)

Table

椅子 (yizi)

Chair

烤箱 (kaoxiang)

Oven

凳子 (dengzi)

Stool

水槽 (shuicao)

Sink

蒸鍋 (zhengguo)

Steamer

鋼杯 (gangbei)

Steel cup

電爐 (dianlu)

Stove

花瓶 (huaping)

Vase

電話 (dianhua)

Telephone

時鐘 (shizhong)

Clock

盤子 (panzi)

Plate

燉鍋 (dunguo)

Stewpot

湯勺 (tangshao)

Ladle

飯碗 (fanwan)

Bowl

茶杯 (chabei)

Teacup

罐子 (guanzi)

Jar

酒杯 (jiubei)

Wineglass

茶壺 (chahu)

Teapot

刀子 (daozi)

Knife

Supermarket

芹菜 (qincai)

Celery

櫻桃 (yingtao)

Cherry

南瓜 (nangua)

Pumpkin

鳳梨 (fengli)

Pineapple

洋蔥 (yangcong)

Onion

奶油 (naiyou)

Butter

番茄 (fanqie)

Tomato

糖果 (tangguo)

Candy

蘿蔔 (luobo)

Carrot

花生 (huasheng)

Peanut

蘋果 (pingguo)

Apple

香蕉 (xiangjiao)

Banana

草莓 (caomei)

Strawberry

葡萄 (putao)

Grape

西瓜 (xigua)

Watermelon

白菜 (baicai)

Cabbage

豬肉 (zhurou)

Pork

黃瓜 (huanggua)

Cucumber

茄子 (qiezi)

Eggplant

蘑菇 (mogu)

Mushroom

玉米 (yumi)

Corn

辣椒 (lajiao)

Chili

包子 (baozi)

Bun

水餃 (shuijiao)

Dumpling

面包 (mianbao)

Bread

麵條 (miantiao)

Noodle

牛奶 (niunai)

Milk

雞蛋 (jidan)

Egg

餅乾 (bingqian)

Cookie

蛋糕 (dangao)

Cake

Zoo

火雞 (huoji)

Turkey

駱駝 (luotuo)

Camel

蜥蜴 (xiyi)

Lizard

孔雀 (kongque)

Peacock

黃牛 (huangniu)

Cow

鸚鵡 (yingwu)

Parrot

鴕鳥 (tuoniao)

Ostrich

袋鼠 (daishu)

Kangaroo

螃蟹 (pangxie)

Crab

犀牛 (xiniu)

Rhinocero

青蛙 (qingwa)

Frog

烏龜 (wugui)

Turtle

企鵝 (qie)

Penguin

兔子 (tuzi)

Rabbit

公雞 (gongji)

Rooster

大象 (daxiang)

Elephant

小狗 (xiaogou)

Dog

小貓 (xiaomao)

Cat

小鳥 (xiaoniao)

Bird

斑馬 (banma)

Zebra

松鼠 (songshu)

Squirrel

熊貓 (xiongmao)

Panda

狐狸 (huli)

Fox

獅子 (shizi)

Lion

猴子 (houzi)

Monkey

老虎 (laohu)

Tiger

老鷹 (laoying)

Eagle

蝴蝶 (hudie)

Butterfly

鱷魚 (eyu)

Crocodile

黑熊 (heixiong)

Bear

  1. aPinyin transcriptions of the Chinese words are in parentheses

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Lan, YJ., Fang, SY., Legault, J. et al. Second language acquisition of Mandarin Chinese vocabulary: context of learning effects. Education Tech Research Dev 63, 671–690 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-015-9380-y

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