Students’ Vocabulary Development through the implementation of Quizlet in Cambridge International School in Iran: Perspectives and Implications

Document Type : research article

Authors

1 Department of English Language Teaching, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatuers, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of English Lanuage teaching, University of Tehran, Kish International Campus, Kish Island, Iran

Abstract

The use of technology in learning English vocabulary for academic purposes (EAP) aims to enhance learners’ academic vocabulary knowledge and provide access to a wide range of educational content, as it creates valuable and flexible learning conditions. The present study was conducted with the aim of expanding learners’ vocabulary range through the use of Quizlet at Cambridge International School in Iran, employing a mixed-methods approach at the international school and the Embassy of Pakistan College in Tehran, affiliated with the University of Cambridge. Seventy students from medical and business disciplines at levels O1, O2, O3, and A2 were trained to use the Quizlet application in specialized language classes to improve their vocabulary. A questionnaire, interviews, pre-tests, and post-tests were used to collect data. The research findings indicated a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test results, and students expressed satisfaction with the use of technology in their classes, as it facilitated the learning process and increased efficiency. The use of this application as a technological tool provided students with the opportunity to select relevant learning strategies and apply them in their language production, particularly in writing specialized texts. Additionally, such instruction received positive feedback from learners and led to greater collaboration among them. Therefore, language instructors at Cambridge schools should emphasize academic vocabulary in schools, and this emphasis should be sustained throughout learners’ education.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Aliakbari, M., & Motallebzadeh, K. (2023). The effect of online Quizlet flashcards and student- created Quizlet flashcards on learning and retention of productive and receptive vocabulary knowledge of elementary Iranian EFL learners. Applied Linguistics Inquiry,  1(2), 60–73.
Arno-Macià, E., Bi, X., & Zhang, D. (2020). Effects of multimedia annotations on incidental  vocabulary learning and reading comprehension of advanced learners of English as a  foreign language. Language Learning & Technology24(2), 1–23.
Bi, H. (2020). The effectiveness of Quizlet application towards students' motivation in learning vocabulary. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies16(1), 1–12.
Brown, T. A. (2015). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Chun, D. M., & Plass, J. L. (1996). Effects of multimedia annotations on vocabulary  acquisition. The Modern Language Journal, 80(2), 183–198. 
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297–334.
Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. Oxford University Press.
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4.
Fakher Ajabshir, Z. (2020). Teaching Second Language Collocations via Concordancers: The Case of Deductive and Inductive Approaches. Journal of Foreign Language Research, 10(2), 362-375. doi: 10.22059/jflr.2020.303435.731
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable          variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2019). A primer on partial least
squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Little, D. (1991). Learner autonomy 1: Definitions, issues and problems. Authentik.
Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (2015). Second language research: Methodology and design (2nd  ed.). Routledge.
purposes. DOI:10.1017/CBO9781139524766.
Plass, J. L., Chun, D. M., Mayer, R. E., & Leutner, D. (1998). Supporting visual and verbal  learning preferences in a second-language multimedia learning environment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(1), 25–36.
Raman, A., & Mohammed, A. H. (2013). Issues of ICT usage among Malaysian secondary school English teachers. Journal of Language Teaching and Research4(5), 1040–1046.
Sepehri, M. (2024). The Effects of Data-Driven Learning on EFL Learners' Improvement in Micro Level Skills of Writing. Journal of Foreign Language Research, 14(3), 473-506. doi: 10.22059/jflr.2024.379795.1143
Shute, V. J. (2008). Focus on formative feedback. Review of Educational Research, 78(1), 153–189.
Stockwell, G. (2010). Using mobile phones for vocabulary activities: Examining the effect of  the platform. Language Learning & Technology, 14(2), 95–110.
Taherkhani, R. (2018). Investigating the Cognitions and Practices of Iranian Language Teachers’ and Content Teachers’ Materials Preparation in EAP Courses at Medical Sciences Universities: A Nationwide Study. Journal of Foreign Language Research, 8(1), 167–186.