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Retention of foreign vocabulary learned using the keyword method: a ten-year follow-up

University of Wales, Swansea

Michael Gruneberg

University of Wales, Swansea

Nick Ellis

University of Wales, Bangor

This article assesses one individual's level of recall for foreign vocabulary learned ten years previously using the keyword method. Without any revision at all, he remembered 35% of the test words with spelling fully correct and over 50% with only very minor errors of spelling. After 10 minutes spent looking at a vocabulary list, recall increased to 65% and 76% respectively. After a period of revision lasting a further 1 hours, recall was virtually 100%. This level of recall was maintained for at least one month. The results indicate 1) that the keyword method (as incorporated in Linkword courses) may be used to learn a large list of vocabulary; and 2) this method of learning is not inimical to retention in the long term. Some theoretical aspects of the findings are discussed.

Second Language Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, 112-120 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/026765839501100203


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