Cartoons as a tool for incidental vocabulary acquisition in year 6 EFL pupils

Lemut Bajec, Melita (avtor), Železnik, Barbara (avtor), Pižorn, Karmen (avtor)

Children today encounter English in various contexts, with cartoons serving as a particularly influential medium. Beyond their entertainment value, cartoons also promote incidental foreign language acquisition. This article presents the findings of a study involving 240 sixth-grade pupils from Slovenian primary schools. Employing a quantitative approach, the study utilised both a questionnaire and a knowledge test to explore the relationship between English cartoon viewing and incidental vocabulary acquisition. It examined the frequency of cartoon viewing, pupils’ attitudes towards English-language cartoons, and the impact of subtitles on vocabulary test performance. The results indicate that a higher frequency of cartoon viewing, positive attitudes towards English cartoons, and the use of English subtitles are significantly associated with enhanced English vocabulary knowledge. The findings underscore the educational value of English cartoons in supporting vocabulary development and highlight the potential of engaging multimedia content in fostering incidental vocabulary acquisition in both classroom settings and out-of-school contexts. Consequently, educators should incorporate cartoon-based materials to enhance vocabulary learning, introduce authentic language exposure, and provide multi-sensory experiences tailored to varying learner preferences and proficiency levels.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: cartoon viewing, English, incidental vocabulary acquisition, primary school, vocabulary knowledge
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: PEF - Pedagoška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 1015-1030
• Številčenje: Vol. 14, iss. 3
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-170895
• UDK: 373.32.016:81
• ISSN pri članku: 2165-8714
• DOI: 10.12973/eu-jer.14.3.1015
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243163395
• Datum objave v RUL: 21.07.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: European journal of educational research
• Založnik: Eurasian Society of Educational Research
• ISSN: 2165-8714
• COBISS.SI-ID: 19227400

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: pridobivanje besedišča, osnovne šole, angleščina, znanje, risani filmi, besedišče

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P6-0411
• Naslov: Jezikovni viri in tehnologije za slovenski jezik

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J7-3159
• Naslov: Empirična podlaga za digitalno podprt razvoj pisne jezikovne zmožnosti
• Akronim: PROP