Abstract

In this study we investigate the development and instructional application of a curriculum-based English vocabulary list tailored for marketing majors at a technological university in Taiwan. Combining corpus linguistics and curriculum-based measurement (CBM), we aimed to address the lexical challenges that low-proficiency learners in English for Specific Purposes contexts (ESP) face. We constructed a specialised corpus from open-access marketing textbooks and web-based content. We selected the Marketing Word List (MWL), comprising 208 high-frequency domain-specific terms, through frequency analysis and expert validation using the Delphi method. We subsequently integrated these terms into an online learning platform that delivered bilingual instructional materials, self-paced quizzes and weekly formative assessments. A two-month intervention showed a statistically significant improvement in students’ vocabulary performance. Preliminary evidence suggested that the MWL enhanced domain-specific vocabulary acquisition, and learners reported increased confidence and perceived relevance of the word list to their studies. The findings highlight CBM-aligned vocabulary instruction’s pedagogical potential, supported by technology-enhanced delivery systems, in tertiary education. This approach offers a replicable model for aligning assessment, instruction and content in ESP instruction for low-proficiency English learners.

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