The Effect of Using Telegram Messenger on Vocabulary Learning of Iranian EFL Learners
Movafagh Ardestani, E. (2017)
Abstract:
The current study investigated the effect of using Telegram Messenger on Iranian EFL learners’ vocabulary learning. From among 120 candidates, 100 of them were chosen randomly. After homogenizing the participants by Oxford Placement Test (OPT), 50 students were chosen as the main sample size and were randomly divided into two groups: one control and one experimental group, each having 25 students. Thereafter, the multiple choice vocabulary pretest was administered to all subjects to ensure their homogeneity prior the beginning of the study. Among all questions in pretest, 40 questions, which were not correctly answered, were chosen for teaching in next step. In the treatment period, students in experimental group were taught via Telegram Messenger while in the control group they were taught traditionally. After 8 sessions of treatment, the posttest was administered to assess the participants’ improvement in both groups. The result of the Independent-Samples t-test revealed that students in experimental group had more progress than the students in the control group meaning that Telegram Messenger had significant effect on improving vocabulary knowledge of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. The findings consolidate the role of mobile phones as effective tools in teaching and learning vocabulary. Thus, it is hoped that the study encourages the EFL/ESL teachers to host this device in the classroom environments. The finding may also be beneficial for materials and curriculum developers in designing and preparing syllabi that are more adaptable with using MALL which may help language learners to learn vocabulary better.
