The Effectiveness of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning on the Vocabulary Development of Saudi Female EFL University Students

Abstract

Mobile devices are no longer mere means of communication. Their prevalence among students and their multifaceted potential have induced researchers to investigate the possibility and utility of employing them as language learning tools, and have led to the establishment of a new approach for language learning called Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL). This approach uses portable devices to enable learning anytime, anywhere. The current study aims to explore the effectiveness of integrating MALL into vocabulary learning for Saudi female EFL university students and to assess their attitudes toward the innovation. In a quasi-experiment, 50 students were randomly selected and divided into two equal groups: a control group who used traditional methods (pen-and paper) for vocabulary learning, and the experimental group, who used traditional methods in addition to mobile devices. A comparative pre- and post-test measurement evaluated the effectiveness of the two methods, and a post-process questionnaire was administered to students in the experimental group, to gauge their attitudes toward the new approach. The data thus obtained were analyzed using the Real Statistics Resource Pack for Microsoft Excel 2016. The findings of the pre- and post-test indicated that the students in the experimental group outperformed those in the control, demonstrating the positive influence of mobile devices on students’ vocabulary development. According to the experimental group’s responses to the post-process questionnaire, they regarded this type of learning in a positive light, perceiving a three-way correlation between their use of mobile devices, increased motivation to learn, and improved vocabulary. Such outcomes should encourage teachers to reconsider their current strategy of curtailing mobile use in classrooms and instead to exploit the potential of portable devices, for learning English in general and for the development of vocabulary in particular.