Implementing counseling techniques: Role play and storytelling in teaching second language vocabulary to adult second language learners

Speaking a foreign or second language is always impressive, and it brings pride and a sense of self-confidence to an individual. However, learning a language will depends on many different factors, and there are considerable variations among learners. Some learners may be more successful due to factors out of their control, like gender, intelligence, age, educational background, socioeconomic status, etc. However, learning a language demands rigorous, long term and intense training. Successful language learners appear with a wider range of strategies in a larger number of situations than weaker learners. Some learners may not be aware of which strategies they use or which strategies are available to them. The teacher can therefore help these learners to recognize the power of using different strategies by integrating learner-strategy training into regular lesson plans, teaching them how to evaluate each strategy, and how and why to use them.;Today more than ever, computer technology and globalization have brought many languages into contact, thus demanding familiarity with more than one language and effective communication with people of other cultures. Knowing a foreign or second language can assist individuals not only in academia but also in global business. In many parts of the United States, the number of adults seeking English language instruction is growing. State, local, and governmental program staffs are seeking information and technical assistance to guide them in establishing and improving their programs.;The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between counseling techniques and second language vocabulary acquisition for adult second language learners. This study implemented two counseling techniques, Role play and Story telling in teaching second language vocabulary to adult second language learners.;The results of this study showed that both techniques Role playing and Story telling were reported to be favorable and successful by all participants who attended this study. The participants not only successfully enhanced their vocabulary but also managed to utilize those words into their Role play and Story telling activities. Role play enhanced their fluency of communicative skills which necessitates vocabulary enhancement. Without such an increment of vocabulary, their progress would have been slower. Story telling assisted participants to take time to reflect on their stories and to take full use of the vocabulary acquired earlier. This technique particularly assisted them in making learners become independent learners, owning their language skills and, as a result, making them empowered.;The results of the statistical analysis conducted on the participants' pre and post test scores also indicated that all participants made marked improvement, and thus both Role play and Story telling can help adult ESL learners to improve their vocabulary and communicative language skills. Therefore, it can be said that both Role play and Story telling can be successfully implemented in teaching second language vocabulary to adult second language learners. However, these techniques can only be applicable to intermediate and advanced level of second language learners.