The Effect of Theme-Based Lexical Approach on English Writing Fluency and Accuracy Among Students in Chinese Vocational and Technical College

Lexical chunks have garnered increasing attention in second language acquisition, and their essential role in enhancing high school students’ writing competency has been well-documented. However, the relationship between a theme-based lexical approach and English writing fluency and accuracy among vocational and technical college students remains underexplored. Addressing this gap, the present study investigated the effects of integrating a theme-based lexical approach on the English writing fluency and accuracy of first-year English-major students at a Chinese vocational and technical college. Specifically, the study aimed to evaluate the impact of the theme-based lexical approach on students’ writing fluency and accuracy, as well as their confidence and motivation in writing, resulting from the intervention. Two parallel classes, each comprising 55 students, were selected as experimental and control groups using a random sampling method. Over a two-month experimental period, the experimental group received instruction through the theme-based lexical approach, while the control group followed the standard curriculum without additional treatment. Both groups participated in a writing test and completed a questionnaire before and after the experiment. The results revealed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in writing, showing notable improvements in both accuracy and fluency. Furthermore, students in the experimental group reported a dramatic increase in writing confidence and motivation, highlighting the effectiveness of the theme-based lexical approach in fostering enhanced writing outcomes.