EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF CONTEXT ON VOCABULARY COMPREHENSION AMONG OTM STUDENTS IN TARABA STATE

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of context on word meaning among ND2 Office Technology and Management (OTM) students at Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, during the 2022/2023 academic session. The primary objective was to assess how context influences students’ understanding of both technical and academic terminologies, identify contextual barriers, and suggest ways to improve their comprehension. Grounded in the linguistic theory of context, the study explores linguistic, situational, and social contexts that impact word meaning. A qualitative research design was employed, using classroom observation as the primary data collection method. Systematic simple random sampling was applied to select 54 participants out of a population of 108 students. The findings revealed that OTM students often struggle with interpreting technical terms in workplace contexts, while they demonstrate a stronger grasp of academic terms. However, some abstract academic vocabulary still posed challenges. The study concludes that context significantly shapes word comprehension, with familiarity and exposure to terms being key factors. Recommendations include incorporating real-world scenarios in the curriculum, enhancing vocabulary instruction, providing contextual awareness workshops, collaborating with industry professionals, and contextualizing assessments to improve students' comprehension of both technical and academic terms.