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- Volume 169, Issue, 2018
ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics - Volume 169, Issue 1, 2018
Volume 169, Issue 1, 2018
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Eye movements in vocabulary research
Author(s): Ana Pellicer-Sánchez and Anna Siyanova-Chanturiapp.: 5–29 (25)More LessThe field of vocabulary research is witnessing a growing interest in the use of eye-tracking to investigate topics that have traditionally been examined using offline measures, providing new insights into the processing and learning of vocabulary. During an eye-tracking experiment, participants’ eye movements are recorded while they attend to written or auditory input, resulting in a rich record of online processing behaviour. Because of its many benefits, eye-tracking is becoming a major research technique in vocabulary research. However, before this emerging trend of eye-tracking based vocabulary research continues to proliferate, it is important to step back and reflect on what current studies have shown about the processing and learning of vocabulary, and the ways in which we can use the technique in future research. To this aim, the present paper provides a comprehensive overview of current eye-tracking research findings, both in terms of the processing and learning of single words and formulaic sequences. Current research gaps and potential avenues for future research are also discussed.
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Reading a whole book to learn vocabulary
Author(s): Paul Nationpp.: 30–43 (14)More LessThis paper investigates whether it is a good idea to choose a book that interests you and read it through from the beginning to the end learning all the new words you meet. For the analysis, it is assumed that learners already know the most frequent 3,000 words of English. The criteria used to guide this investigation include the number of unknown words met, the usefulness of the unknown words, the density of the unknown words, and the number of repetitions of the unknown words. Reading a whole book intensively is not a good idea unless the book is a graded reader, a technical text in a relevant subject area, or a set text that would be examined as a part of assessment. Where learners need to do such reading of unsimplified texts, they should be strategic in dealing with unknown vocabulary.
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A Hard Science Spoken Word List
Author(s): Thi Ngoc Yen Dangpp.: 44–71 (28)More LessA Hard Science Spoken Word List (HSWL) was developed and validated to help second language learners of hard sciences better comprehend academic speech at English-medium universities. It consists of the 1,595 most frequent and wide ranging word families in a 6.5-million running word hard science spoken corpus which represents 12 subjects across two equally-sized sub-corpora. Its coverage in different discourse types indicates that the HSWL truly reflects the language in hard science academic speech. The comparison between the HSWL with Dang, Coxhead, and Webb’s (2017) Academic Spoken Word List shows that the HSWL focuses more on specialized vocabulary in hard science speech. Depending on their vocabulary levels, learners may achieve 93%–96% coverage of hard science academic speech with knowledge of the HSWL words.
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Re-examining the effects of word writing on vocabulary learning
Author(s): Stuart Webb and Anna Piaseckipp.: 72–94 (23)More LessThis study investigated the effects of word writing on vocabulary learning by comparing three conditions in which there was (a) limited time to write words, (b) unlimited time to write words, and (c) a non-writing word-picture pairs comparison. Non-native speakers studying English as a second language encountered 8 word-picture pairs in each condition and were administered a test measuring form recall and another measuring receptive knowledge of written form. The results indicated that there was little difference between scores on both tests when time on task was the same. However, when the participants had as much time as they needed to write and learn words they had higher scores on both dependent measures than when learning in the other two conditions. The findings suggest that an ecologically valid approach to word writing may facilitate vocabulary learning.
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Loanword proportion in vocabulary size tests
Author(s): Batia Laufer and Tami Levitzky-Aviadpp.: 95–114 (20)More LessWe investigated the effect of English-Hebrew loanwords on English vocabulary test scores when the number of loanwords in the test is random and when it is representative of their proportion in the vocabulary lists from which the test items were taken. 303 EFL learners, speakers of Hebrew as L1, at three L2 proficiency levels, received tests with no loanwords, with a representative number of loanwords and with a random number of loanwords in four modalities: word form recall, word meaning recall, word form recognition, word meaning recognition. Though different effects were found for different modalities and different language proficiencies, the score increases from the representative loanword test version to the random loanword version were low and the effect sizes of the differences were very low. We suggest that the inclusion of loanwords in vocabulary tests may not inflate the true vocabulary knowledge score.
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The guessing from context test
Author(s): Yosuke Sasao and Stuart Webbpp.: 115–141 (27)More LessThis study aims to develop two equivalent forms of the Guessing from Context Test (GCT) and provide its preliminary validity evidence. The GCT is a diagnostic test of the guessing skill and measures the following three important steps in guessing: identifying the part of speech of an unknown word, finding its discourse clue, and deriving its meaning. The test was administered to 428 Japanese learners of English. The results indicate that the two forms each with 20 question sets are equivalent in terms of item difficulty distribution and representativeness of the construct being measured. A wide range of validity evidence was provided using Messick’s validation framework, the Rasch model, qualitative investigations into the relationships to actual guessing, and proposals for score interpretation.
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The effect of out-of-class exposure to English language media on learners’ vocabulary knowledge
Author(s): Elke Peterspp.: 142–168 (27)More LessThe aim of this study is to investigate (1) how often Flemish English-as-a-foreign language learners are exposed to English language media outside of the classroom, (2) whether current out-of-class exposure to English language media is related to learners’ vocabulary knowledge, and (3) whether length of instruction (three or six years), gender, and out-of-class exposure to English language media affect Flemish learners’ vocabulary. Data were collected with 79 English-as-a-foreign language learners. They were administered a frequency-based vocabulary test and a questionnaire. The findings of this study show that Flemish English-as-a-foreign language learners are frequently exposed to English language media. The results also indicate a positive relationship between learners’ vocabulary knowledge and exposure to non-subtitled TV programs and movies, the Internet, and written print (books, magazines). Finally, both length of instruction and current out-of-class exposure to English language media had an effect on learners’ vocabulary knowledge, but out-of-class exposure had a larger effect than length of instruction.
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Examining incidental vocabulary acquisition from captioned video
Author(s): Nurul Aini Mohd Jelani and Frank Boerspp.: 169–190 (22)More LessPrevious comparisons of vocabulary uptake from captioned and uncaptioned audio-visual materials have almost consistently furnished evidence in favour of captioned materials. However, it is possible that many such comparative studies gave an advantage to the captioned input conditions by virtue of their use of written word prompts in the tests. The present study therefore examines whether aurally presented test prompts yield equally compelling evidence for the superiority of captioned over uncaptioned video. Intermediate EFL learners watched a ten-minute TED Talks video either with or without captions and were subsequently given a word recognition and a word meaning test, with half of the test prompts presented in print and the other half presented aurally. While the results of the word recognition test were inconclusive, the word meaning test yielded significantly better scores by the group that watched the captioned video. However, this was due entirely to their superior scores on the printed word prompts, not the aural ones. This suggests that evaluations of the benefits of captions for vocabulary acquisitions should take input-modality – test-modality congruency into account.
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The images in television programs and the potential for learning unknown words
Author(s): Michael P. H. Rodgerspp.: 191–211 (21)More LessPrevious studies have indicated the potential for incidental vocabulary learning through viewing television. The assumption has been that the imagery in television helps learners acquire vocabulary because when they hear an unfamiliar word, the on-screen images provide semantic support. However, the extent to which imagery in authentic television supports learners in this way is unclear. This study examines 90 target words occurring in single seasons of television, and the degree to which their aural occurrence matched the presentation of a potentially supporting image. Results indicate differences in the way imagery supports potential vocabulary learning in documentary television compared with narrative television, and that this supporting imagery occurred concurrently with the aural form more often in documentary television. Research and pedagogical implications are discussed in detail.
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Vocabulary knowledge and listening comprehension at an intermediate level in English and French as foreign languages
Author(s): Ann-Sophie Noreillie, Britta Kestemont, Kris Heylen, Piet Desmet and Elke Peterspp.: 212–231 (20)More LessThe present study aims to replicate Stæhr’s (2009) study on the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and listening comprehension. To explore the generalizability of Stæhr’s findings, two experiments were conducted. However, the study changed the population (Flemish learners) and proficiency level of the materials in the first experiment (intermediate) and also the language in the second experiment (French). Our results generally confirm Stæhr’s findings. We also found a positive correlation between vocabulary knowledge and listening comprehension. Although our findings reveal that learners probably need fewer words for adequate listening comprehension at an intermediate proficiency level, our study also showed that learners who knew more words had higher listening comprehension scores. Finally, our study seems to suggest that learners might need less lexical coverage for intermediate listening.
Volumes & issues
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Volume 175 (2024)
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Volume 174 (2023)
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Volume 173 (2022)
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Volume 172 (2021)
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Volume 171 (2020)
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Volume 170 (2019)
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Volume 169 (2018)
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Volume 168 (2017)
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Volume 167 (2016)
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Volume 166 (2015)
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Volume 165 (2014)
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Volume 164 (2012)
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Volume 163 (2012)
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Volume 162 (2011)
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Volume 161 (2011)
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Volume 160 (2010)
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Volume 159 (2010)
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Volume 158 (2009)
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Volume 157 (2009)
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Volume 156 (2008)
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Volume 155 (2008)
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Volume 154 (2007)
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Volume 153 (2007)
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Volume 152 (2006)
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Volume 151 (2006)
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Volume 149 (2005)
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Volume 147 (2004)
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Volume 145 (2004)
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Volume 143 (2004)
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Volume 141 (2003)
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Volume 139 (2003)
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Volume 137 (2002)
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Volume 135 (2002)
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Volume 133 (2001)
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Volume 131 (2001)
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Volume 129 (2000)
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Volume 127 (2000)
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Volume 125 (1999)
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Volume 123 (1999)
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Volume 121 (1998)
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Volume 119 (1998)
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Volume 117 (1997)
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Volume 115 (1997)
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Volume 113 (1996)
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Volume 111 (1996)
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Volume 109 (1995)
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Volume 107 (1995)
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Volume 105 (1994)
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Volume 103 (1994)
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Volume 101 (1993)
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Volume 99 (1993)
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Volume 97 (1992)
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Volume 95 (1992)
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Volume 93 (1991)
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Volume 91 (1991)
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Volume 89 (1990)
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Volume 87 (1990)
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Volume 85 (1989)
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Volume 83 (1989)
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Volume 81 (1988)
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Volume 79 (1988)
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Volume 77 (1987)
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Volume 76 (1987)
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Volume 75 (1987)
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Volume 74 (1986)
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Volume 73 (1986)
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Volume 72 (1986)
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Volume 71 (1986)
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Volume 70 (1985)
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Volume 69 (1985)
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Volume 67 (1985)
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Volume 66 (1985)
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Volume 65 (1984)
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Volume 64 (1984)
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Volume 63 (1984)
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Volume 62 (1983)
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Volume 60 (1983)
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Volume 59 (1983)
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Volume 58 (1982)
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Volume 57 (1982)
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Volume 56 (1982)
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Volume 55 (1982)
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Volume 54 (1981)
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Volume 53 (1981)
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Volume 52 (1981)
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Volume 51 (1981)
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Volume 49 (1980)
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Volume 48 (1980)
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Volume 47 (1980)
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Volume 45 (1979)
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Volume 44 (1979)
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Volume 43 (1979)
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Volume 41 (1978)
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Volume 39 (1978)
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Volume 38 (1977)
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Volume 37 (1977)
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Volume 36 (1977)
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Volume 35 (1977)
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Volume 34 (1976)
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Volume 33 (1976)
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Volume 32 (1976)
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Volume 31 (1976)
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Volume 30 (1975)
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Volume 29 (1975)
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Volume 28 (1975)
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Volume 27 (1975)
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Volume 25 (1974)
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Volume 24 (1974)
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Volume 23 (1974)
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Volume 22 (1973)
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Volume 21 (1973)
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Volume 20 (1973)
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Volume 19 (1973)
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Volume 18 (1972)
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Volume 17 (1972)
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Volume 16 (1972)
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Volume 15 (1972)
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Volume 14 (1971)
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Volume 13 (1971)
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Volume 12 (1971)
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Volume 11 (1971)
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Volume 10 (1970)
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Volume 9 (1970)
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Volume 8 (1970)
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Volume 7 (1970)
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Volume 6 (1969)
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Volume 5 (1969)
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Volume 4 (1969)
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Volume 3 (1969)
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Volume 2 (1968)
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Volume 1 (1968)
Most Read This Month

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The updated Vocabulary Levels Test
Author(s): Stuart Webb, Yosuke Sasao and Oliver Ballance
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