Investigating the Interface Between Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge and EFL Learners' Strategy Use

2 Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between the depth of vocabulary and the vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) among Iranian undergraduate EFL learners. To such an end, the Schmitt's (1) Strategy Inventory and Read's (2) Word-Associates-Test (WAT) were distributed to 130 learners. The results of the study showed that while metacognitive, cognitive and determination strategies accounted for the depth of vocabulary learning among the Lexically Skilled Learners (henceforth LS), the Less Lexically Skilled Learners (hereafter LLS) were mainly reliant on their memory to answer the vocabulary items. This study can inspire teachers, learners and educators to attend more to the important role of strategies in escalating depth of vocabulary knowledge.