Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Use of Mobile Apps in Teaching and Learning


Affiliations
1 Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore - 641021 Tamil Nadu, India
 

Learning English has become an important part of schooling. Vocabulary is a very important part of learning a language. Hence having a good vocabulary is important for efficient communication. But it is hard and stressful to learn a foreign language. Also, learning new words in English is often seen as an unexciting activity and students may not be motivated enough to stick their heads around it. This study analyses available mobile game-based English vocabulary practice systems that involve choosing words based on textbook passages. The students are incentivised with badges and certificates for levelling up through higher difficulty ratios and mastering learning portfolios. The goal is to encourage and increase interest in learning English. The system’s learning activities change vocabulary learning from a monotonous process of memorising words to a fun game. This helps learners remember words and become more familiar with words that are used in the curriculum. This paper talks about the approaches to enhancing vocabulary using mobile technology and lists out important applications that can be used to teach and learn vocabulary. The interests, needs, and learning goals of students are also kept in mind while choosing these apps. Even though many students know how to use apps, they may need help learning how to use vocabulary apps effectively and strategically. The focus of the paper is to achieve the aforementioned feat of learning more and achieving student goals in a shorter span with enhanced efficiency taking the aid of technology.

Keywords

Mobile Apps for ESL, Mobile Technology, Vocabulary Enchantment
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Nation I. How large a vocabulary is needed for reading and listening? In M. Horst and T. Cobb (Eds.). Second Special Vocabulary Edition of Canadian Modern Language Review. 2006; 63(1):59-82. https://doi.org/10.3138/cmlr.63.1.59
  • Turgut Y, İrgin P. Young Learners’ Language Learning via Computer Games. Procedia Social and Behavioural Sciences. 2009; 1:760-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.135
  • Chang CC, Tseng, KH, Liang C, Yan CF. The Influence of perceived convenience and curiosity on continuance intention in mobile English learning for high school students using PDAs. Technology, Pedagogy and Education. 2013; 22(3):373- 86. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2013.802991
  • Graves MF. Teaching Individual Words. New York: Teachers College Press, IRA. 2009.
  • Nagy WE, Scott, JA. Vocabulary Processes. In Kamil ML, Mosenthal PB, Pearson PD, Barr R (Eds.). Handbook of Reading Research. 2000; (3):574-93.
  • Hsu CK, Hwang CJ, Chang CK. A personalized recommendation-based mobile learning approach to improving the reading performance of EFL students. Computers and Educational. 2013; 63:327-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.12.004
  • Laufer B. Quantitative Evaluation of Vocabulary: How it can be done and what it is good for. In Elder C, Brown A, Hill K, Iwashita N, Lumley T, McNamara T, O’Loughlin K (Eds.), Experimenting with Uncertainty, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2001; p. 241-50.
  • Smith GG, Li Drobisz J, Park HR, Kim D, Smith SD. Play Games or Study? Computer games in eBooks to Learn English Vocabulary. Computers and Education. 2013; 69:274-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2013.07.015

Abstract Views: 394

PDF Views: 183




  • Use of Mobile Apps in Teaching and Learning

Abstract Views: 394  |  PDF Views: 183

Authors

D. Ronald Hadrian
Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore - 641021 Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


Learning English has become an important part of schooling. Vocabulary is a very important part of learning a language. Hence having a good vocabulary is important for efficient communication. But it is hard and stressful to learn a foreign language. Also, learning new words in English is often seen as an unexciting activity and students may not be motivated enough to stick their heads around it. This study analyses available mobile game-based English vocabulary practice systems that involve choosing words based on textbook passages. The students are incentivised with badges and certificates for levelling up through higher difficulty ratios and mastering learning portfolios. The goal is to encourage and increase interest in learning English. The system’s learning activities change vocabulary learning from a monotonous process of memorising words to a fun game. This helps learners remember words and become more familiar with words that are used in the curriculum. This paper talks about the approaches to enhancing vocabulary using mobile technology and lists out important applications that can be used to teach and learn vocabulary. The interests, needs, and learning goals of students are also kept in mind while choosing these apps. Even though many students know how to use apps, they may need help learning how to use vocabulary apps effectively and strategically. The focus of the paper is to achieve the aforementioned feat of learning more and achieving student goals in a shorter span with enhanced efficiency taking the aid of technology.

Keywords


Mobile Apps for ESL, Mobile Technology, Vocabulary Enchantment

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.15613/hijrh%2F2023%2Fv10i2%2F223909