EFL Students' Strategies for Learning Academic Vocabulary with Mobile Phones at Van Lang University in Vietnam

Abstract

This research has investigated how EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students use mobile applications to learn academic vocabulary in a self-directed and autonomous manner. Forty first-year students at Van Lang University taking part in the research process were divided into experimental (N=18) and control (N=22) groups. The experimental group utilized a mobile app throughout the semester, whereas those in the control group used traditional methods. Three final tests every semester were used to check the participants' newly gained vocabulary knowledge. The findings revealed that the students in both groups could enhance their vocabulary proficiency. Nevertheless, the experimental group achieved better results in all three final tests. Moreover, this group also saved significant time when using the phone to support vocabulary learning, while the control group gave unstable test results. The findings demonstrate the potential of mobile apps for independent academic vocabulary acquisition and provide impacts on EFL vocabulary learning.