Nyckeln till framgång? : Utvärdering av nyckelordmetoden i undervisning av moderna språk

This study examines the efficacy of the Keyword Method, enhanced by AIgenerated imagery, in facilitating vocabulary acquisition in a classroom setting for Swedish sixth graders beginning their Spanish language studies. This research compares the immediate and delayed retention rates of vocabulary learned through the Keyword Method against a traditional method without images. Initially, students demonstrated significantly higher recall of Spanish vocabulary immediately following the use of AI-enhanced Keyword Method compared to the traditional method. However, these advantages did not persist over time, with no significant differences noted two weeks later. This indicates that while the Keyword Method may be beneficial for initial learning, its long-term benefits for retaining vocabulary may be limited. These findings suggest that while effective for initial vocabulary introduction, the Keyword Method should be integrated with other pedagogical strategies to support long-term retention and comprehensive language acquisition. Further research is recommended to explore the factors influencing the sustainability of the method's effectiveness.