ERIC Number: EJ1340746
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1562-0506
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Perspectives of EFL Students on Using Electronic Dictionaries to Improve Vocabulary Learning: A Comparative Study
Alamri, Hayat Rashid; Hakami, Hind Mousa
International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, v14 n2 p1578-1599 2022
The purpose of this causal-comparative mixed-method study was to investigate and compare Saudi EFL female students' perspectives utilizing e-dictionaries to increase vocabulary learning in the Language Department (ELD) and those in the Preparatory Year Program (PYP) at Taibah University. The participants comprised (143) fourth-year students, while (152) PYP students volunteered in the study. The data was gathered using a 3-point Likert scale and an open-ended question that obtained 38 replies. The results of the descriptive statistics indicated that EFL female students in the ELD and PYP agreed on the advantages of e-dictionaries in terms of speed, time savings, and accurately translating words from L2 to L1 and vice versa. At the same time, EFL female PYP students agreed more on the benefits of using e-dictionaries to verify vocabulary meaning, comprehension, alternatives, extensive definitions and examples, and acquiring accurate pronunciation. On the contrary, EFL female students in the ELD were more enthusiastic about the benefits of e-dictionaries in demonstrating the grammatical usage of new vocabulary and accelerating vocabulary recall and retention. The results of the Mann-Whitney U test revealed that EFL female PYP students outperformed EFL female ELD students. The findings of the open-ended question showed that EFL students preferred "Google translation" and "Mobile Apps" more than "Paper dictionaries" as alternate strategies for vocabulary learning.
Descriptors: English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Electronic Publishing, Dictionaries, Vocabulary Development, Comparative Analysis, Foreign Countries, College Students, Electronic Learning, Student Attitudes, Females
World Council for Curriculum and Instruction. California School of Education, Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131. Web site: http://ijci.wcci-international.org/index.php/IJCI/about
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Saudi Arabia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A