Exploring the relationship between tolerance of ambiguity of EFL learners and their vocabulary knowledge

Abstract

Learning a new language is akin to exploring an unknown land as ambiguous situations are prevalent in language learning. Ambiguity tolerance, which can hinder or facilitate language learning, is considered as an important learning style. The purpose of the present study is to understand how tolerant/intolerant EFL learners are of foreign language ambiguities in addition to exploring whether tolerance of ambiguity of EFL learners affects their vocabulary knowledge. The study also aims to probe whether there is any gender-related difference in tolerance of ambiguity of EFL learners and investigates whether ambiguity tolerance is related to self-perceived success of Turkish EFL learners in foreign language vocabulary. This study was conducted with 60 freshmen enrolled in the English Language Teaching (ELT) Department of a state university in Turkey. The data collection instruments consist of the Second Language Tolerance of Ambiguity Scale and the Vocabulary Levels Test. The data were analyzed descriptively using the SPSS 21 Software. The findings of the study revealed that EFL learners have a moderate level of ambiguity tolerance in foreign language learning and that gender does not have any significant impact on tolerance of ambiguity. It was also found that there is no significant relationship between tolerance of ambiguity and vocabulary knowledge whereas a significant relationship between tolerance of ambiguity and self-perceived achievement in foreign language vocabulary learning was identified. In the light of the findings, some practical recommendations were noted.