To identify effective methods for boosting incidental vocabulary learning, this study examines the impacts of two tools—bimodal presentation (BP) and lexical elaboration (LE)—on vocabulary acquisition through repeated encounters with target words during meaning-focused reading. In a quiet and comfortable place conducive to full concentration on reading comprehension, 80 L2 learners of English were assigned to one of four treatment groups (BP+LE+, BP+LE-, BP-LE+, and BP-LE-) and individually read three reading passages where target words appeared four times. Surprise posttests assessed meaning recognition and meaning recall. The results of this ecologically valid experiment show significant vocabulary learning through reading, with BP notably enhancing meaning recall. Although the main effect of LE was non-significant, LE was also significantly effective for both meaning recognition and meaning recall if it was noticed by participants. These findings suggest that BP and LE can serve as valuable tools for promoting vocabulary acquisition during meaning-centered reading.

This study investigated whether or not there is any difference in the extent to which incidental vocabulary learning takes place according to the presence of background knowledge. Along with background knowledge, three other variables such as reading comprehension ability, reading strategies, and knowledge of words were examined to determine how each variable contributes to incidental vocabulary learning. The data from two groups of 60 second grade students in a Korean middle school was analyzed in this research, and the followings were measured: the use of reading strategies, reading comprehension ability, knowledge of passage sight vocabulary, background knowledge on a text, and knowledge of target words. The findings revealed that the participants inferred the meaning of unknown words better when they had more background knowledge. Each of the four variables was a significant predictor of their incidental vocabulary learning and played a facilitative role in the lexical inferencing process. The results are discussed in terms of the conditions for efficient incidental vocabulary learning through reading.

The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent Korean college students can acquire vocabulary from reading course materials. The participants were 32 college students who enrolled in a TEFL methodology course. A vocabulary test was administered at the beginning and the end of the course, and the results showed that the participants were able to recognize meanings of an average of 3.6 new words, suggesting that small but significant amounts of incidental vocabulary learning can occur as a result of reading course materials. The findings also showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between the number of times each word occurred and its relative learning gain. The results of this study suggests that incidental vocabulary learning is possible from reading even though the amount of such learning is not large. Implications for vocabulary learning and teaching are discussed.