Study On the Use of Collocations in Business Class Learners

Abstract

Previous studies have reported lack of collocational competence and difficulties among English as a second language (ESL) learners. However, collocation is crucial in second language acquisition. This research examined the receptive and productive knowledge of collocations among the business students of COMSATS University Islamabad Vehari Campus who studied ESL. It also investigated the gap in the use of collocations at a receptive and productive level. The sample included 61 males and 39 females out of the total sample size of 100. Employing a quantitative approach, we gathered the data through a questionnaire and two collocations tests, and we analysed them via SPSS version 20. The overall result of the collocation test indicated that 66.4% of the respondents had the correct answer at the receptive level compared with only 33.7% at the productive level. Moreover, the statistical result presented a great gap in the ability to utilise collocations at the productive and receptive levels. This result also affirmed that despite their ability to understand the collocations, the students had difficulties in identifying proper English collocations confidently. Local and native language experiences might be one of the reasons that caught the students from being more confident in identifying the English collocations.

Are collocations worth teaching in adult learner English as a foreign language (EFL) classes?

“…However, if we compare the obtained results with other researches (Abedi & Mobaraki, 2014;Duplančić Rogošić, 2014;Lee & Kim, 2021;Nizonkiza, 2017;Najafi & Talebinezhad, 2018;Suleman et al, 2020) on a similar topic, a conclusion can be made that teaching collocations to ESP students is necessary to improve their language skills. Based on the conducted literature review and research, the following recommendations can be a useful guide for:…”

“…She found that, while students well enough understood collocations typical for business language in the process of reading, they had grave problems applying correct collocations in speaking and writing. Suleman et al (2020) examined the receptive and productive knowledge of collocations among the business students of COMSATS University Islamabad Vehari Campus who studied English. They applied both a questionnaire and two collocations tests with 100 students.…”

Effects of task-based instructions on second-language learners' comprehension of collocations to improve writing skills: A pedagogical perspective

“…In Pakistan, English is generally taught as a required course that is mostly literature -based and does not focus on functional use . Suleman et al (2020) claims that while native speakers are often unapproachable as English language instructors in non-English-speaking nations, L2 teachers often struggle to teach collocations because they lack the necessary collocational skills. On the basis of the issue raised in relation t o the challenges Pakistani L2 learners face in developing strong writing skills and the contribution that knowledge of collocations makes to writing skills facilitation, it is necessary to investigate appropriate writing instruction and tasks that can aid in improving their writing skills.…”

“…English, generally, is a compulsory subject in Pakistan that is typically based on literature, but its pragmatic use is not highlighted . The grammar translation method (GTM) is commonly employed for teaching English (Ahmad et al, 2021;Naudhani & Naudhani, 2017;Suleman et al, 2020) and learners are evaluated through a written examination, thus, learners learn the language, only to be successful in their exams by securing good grades. Pakistani teachers use teaching approaches that do not fulfil the requirement of developing creativity among learners, GTM is still being used mainly in the countryside which obstructs the contextualization of language (Anwar & Khan, 2012;Awan & Shafi, 2016;Rashid et al, 2017).…”

Effectiveness of a Proposed Program Based on the Lexical Approach in Fostering EFL Faculty of Management Sciences Students’ Business Collocational Knowledge and Competence

“…It was, also, suggested that these materials should include translation tasks of business collocations to and from the EFL learners' mother tongue. Suleman et. al.…”