Incidental Learning of L2 Collocations in an Academic Lecture: A Multimedia Theory Perspective

Abstract

This study aimed to examine how L1 Arabic learners incidentally acquire L2 English collocations through various input modes in academic lectures. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 87 Arabic learners studying L2 English at a Saudi university. The participants were randomly divided into six groups (5 intervention groups and one control group). An objective type multiple-choice question test was conducted in three phases: a pre-test, immediate post-test, and delayed post-test, to assess the participants' learning. Each experimental group received a specific input mode during the lecture, encountering a total of 17 English collocations. The input modes included listening, reading, reading while listening, viewing, and viewing with captions. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, employing ANOVA tests to compare mean scores across different test types (pre-test, immediate post-test, and delayed post-test) and the five input modes. The results revealed significant improvements in form-recognition learning from reading, viewing, and viewing with captions. These findings contribute further evidence supporting the effectiveness of academic lectures and multimedia theory in facilitating the incidental acquisition of L2 collocations.