Learning and Use of Specialized Qur'anic Vocabulary among English and Translation Major Students (EMSs and TMSs): A Case Study of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Jordanian Students in a University Setting.
Khalaf Al-Makhzoomi, Saleh Freihat

Abstract
This case study investigated the specialized Qur'anic vocabulary learning and use of 12 English and translation major students (EMSs and TMSs) in an English as a foreign language (EFL) Jordanian university setting during the summer session 2010-2011. The researchers developed, described and administered a Test of Qur'anic Terminology (TQT) at the beginning and end of the participants' core Qur'anic course (CQC) and results indicated that both EMSs and TMSs entered such a course with a fair knowledge of specialized Qur'anic terms. At the end of the core Qur'anic course, EMSs' number of Qur'anic vocabulary was the same as that of TMSs’, but TMSs had made much greater gains in the quality of vocabulary knowledge of the target vocabulary items than the EMSs. This case study results also showed that both measuring and acquiring technical vocabulary knowledge in an academic context are complex. The finding concerning the EMSs' lack of improvement in the quality of specialized vocabulary knowledge, in comparison with TMSs suggests that much more should be done before EMSs enter their academic studies in order to create a deeper understanding of the complexities of technical vocabulary knowledge and learning. It is recommended that such an EFL aspect requires further investigation on the part of future researchers. (206 words)

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