Knowledge of Common Words in Slovenian Among Speakers of Slovenian as a Second and Foreign Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51663/pnz.65.3.10Keywords:
vocabulary, yes/no test, vocabulary levels test, as a second and foreign languageAbstract
The article presents two vocabulary tests – a yes/no test and a pilot vocabulary levels test – used to evaluate the knowledge of frequently used common words in Slovenian among speakers of Slovenian as a second and foreign language. It summarises the findings from the first administration of the yes/no test at the 2022 Youth Summer School of Slovenian and focuses on the second administration involving adult learners at the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language (Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana), in 2024. The study aimed to determine whether the yes/no test reliably classifies speakers of Slovenian as a second and foreign language according to their language proficiency and to assess its reliability. The results show that speakers of Slovenian as a second and foreign language are more familiar with high-frequency words than with low-frequency ones, and that vocabulary knowledge varies in relation to proficiency level. The yes/no test successfully differentiates between beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners of Slovenian, although it is less dependable when classifying speakers transitioning between these levels. The results also reveal that speakers of Slavic languages perform better than non-Slavic speakers at lower proficiency levels. The pilot vocabulary levels test supports the validity of the yes/no test, as the results of both tests show a strong correlation.
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