Seamless Learning: Elevating Vocabulary Growth and Lexical Richness in Chinese Language Writing, Edition 1

Second language learners often struggle with writing due to limited vocabulary and exposure to authentic language input. Thus, it is crucial to research and adopt a useful learning model that promotes vocabulary growth and lexical richness to improve learners’ writing performance. This makes it essential to explore the seamless learning of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL), which has been shown to enhance language teaching and learning practices. The research aims to investigate the efficacy of seamless Chinese vocabulary learning (SCVL) through a “sentence-paragraph-essay” artifact-making writing process to enhance vocabulary growth and lexical richness in CFL learners' writing. Using a design-based research (DBR) approach, a 16-week intervention was conducted with 32 international students across three universities in China, representing varying proficiency levels. Learners engaged in a “sentence-paragraph-essay” artifact-making process on the DingTalk platform, showcasing their vocabulary knowledge. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires, artifacts created by learners, interviews, and feedback. Results show a significant increase in SCVL adoption over time, improving vocabulary growth and lexical richness in writing. Learners reported positive experiences and perceptions of SCVL, believing it improved their Chinese writing skills. Despite initial skepticism and unfamiliarity, qualitative findings revealed that learners ultimately found the SCVL experience valuable and rewarding. Overall, this study underscores the potential of SCVL to enhance CFL learners’ writing skills, contributing to the field by advancing a model of seamless Chinese vocabulary learning for promoting vocabulary growth and lexical richness in writing.