Leadership in Professional Vocabulary Acquisition at ESL classes in Small Groups of Students Majoring in Management

Abstract

The present research featured how learning a foreign language in small groups under the guidance of a student with leadership qualities improves professional vocabulary. Such ESL classes proved useful for students majoring in management. Their work was organized in such a way that students' roles were close to their personal characteristics, i.e. action-, people-, and thinking-oriented. A diagnostic test revealed the students' level of proficiency in English. A psychological training made it possible to identify potential leaders. The students in the experimental group were divided into small subgroups and had to master professional vocabulary under the guidance of the leader. In the control group, the subgroups consisted of either leaders or subordinates. Vocabulary acquisition in the experimental subgroups appeared to be 25 % higher than in the control subgroups. Therefore, teamwork under the guidance of a leader proved quite effective.