THE IMPORTANCE OF MORPHEME AWARENESS IN UNDERSTANDING ACADEMIC LANGUAGE

The objective of this research is to examine the role of morpheme awareness in enhancing students' understanding of academic language. Morpheme awareness, or the ability to identify and manipulate the smallest units of meaning within words, is a key factor in vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension, particularly in academic contexts where complex words are common. This study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and practical activities to evaluate how morpheme awareness influences students' ability to decode and comprehend academic vocabulary. Results indicate that morpheme-based strategies significantly aid in understanding specialized vocabulary, with students showing improved confidence and comprehension when encountering morphologically complex words. These findings support the integration of morphological instruction in educational settings to promote independent learning and academic literacy.