Leveraging English Movies for Vocabulary Enhancement: A Study on Malaysian Secondary School ESL Learners

Abstract

Vocabulary mastery is fundamental to successful English language learning, yet Malaysian secondary school learners still encounter difficulties in acquiring English vocabulary using conventional instructional methods. This study examines effectiveness of English movies in enhancing vocabulary of Malaysian secondary school ESL learners. A quasi-experimental design was employed to compare a treatment group (n=20) engaged in movie-based learning with a control group (n=20) receiving traditional vocabulary learning instructions. Data were collected via one pre-test and three post-tests across separate sessions. The findings reveal that the treatment group consistently outperformed the control group in vocabulary learning in all three post-tests. Results of independent t-test confirmed significant differences between the two groups (p<0.01). This suggests that English movies serve as an effective medium for vocabulary learning in ESL classes. The incorporation of English movies into ESL lessons can enrich the learning experience, foster a contextually meaningful learning atmosphere, and simultaneously promote learners’ motivation in learning and using the language. Future investigations should consider larger and more diverse samples, longer intervention periods, or comparisons of various multimedia resources to investigate the effectiveness of movie-based instructional methods.