USING SYNONYMS TO ENHANCE VOCABULARY IN SPEAKING CLASSES FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AT THE FACULTY OF ENGLISH, HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59266/houjs.2026.1193Từ khóa:
first-year students, lexical diversity, speaking skills, synonyms, vocabularyTóm tắt
This study investigates synonym use in enhancing lexical diversity in speaking classes among first-year students at the Faculty of English, Hanoi Open University. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 100 students through questionnaires and open-ended questions. Results indicate that students hold highly positive perceptions of synonyms' role in avoiding word repetition and enriching speech (M = 4.14), with a strong desire to learn more (M = 4.05). However, the actual perceived frequency of synonym use remains moderate (M = 3.28), with high levels of difficulty reported (M = 3.78), particularly in selecting contextually appropriate words (67%) and managing time pressure during communication (54%). Classroom support for synonym practice is limited (M = 2.89). The study highlights the gap between awareness and practice and recommends that instructors systematically integrate synonym teaching through contextual explanation, concrete examples, and guided practice activities.
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