The Effect of Positive Transfer from French to English on Understanding English Texts

Abstract

This study

has

explored EFL

(English as Foreign Language)

Algerian learners’

vocabulary comprehension of unfamiliar words

and aims to build a link between French and

English vocabulary among Algerian learners

.

This research has revealed the positive effects

of French vocabulary on understanding English texts.

The research dealt only with positive

transfer, false

cognates

are

not included.

Quantitative research design has been adopted f

or

this study to generate statistics about the participants. For

data collection, the participant’s

vocabulary size was measured in both languages English and French.

They

were

also

asked t

o

com

plete a pre

-

task intended

to

obtain detailed information

, then

a teaching stage was made to

raise their awareness about the interference between English and French vocabulary. Finally,

a post

-

test was given after the teaching stage to compare the result

s

b

efore and after their

awareness was raised.

The findings may help EFL

instructors

more effectively facilitate the foreign language

vocabulary development of their students. First,

instructors

should be

come

aware of

individual learner

’s

French background and

their

learning strategies.

They

can guide their

learners to be aware of the benefit of French language on learning English in general and

especially vocabulary. Raising the consciousness about the importance of vocabulary

knowledge i

n text comprehension will increase learners’ attention to unknown words and

build a link between the two languages. Finally, the practitioners

can guide their learners to

become

aware that the more French vocabulary you have the easiest understanding Engli

sh

text will be