Effects of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) on vocabulary retention in 10th-grade EFL students in an Ecuadorian public school

Resumen

The study examined the effect of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) on the vocabulary retention of tenth-grade English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in an Ecuadorian public school utilizing Quizlet, Kahoot, and Wordwall. The study used a one-group mixed-methods quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, a six-week intervention, a post-test, and a student perception survey. Mean vocabulary scores improved from M = 4.23 (SD = 2.47) to M = 8.40 (SD = 1.22) on a 10-point scale. The average gain was 4.17 points, 95% CI [3.36, 4.98], and the improvement was statistically significant, t (29) = 10.53, p < .001, with a strong effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.92). These results were confirmed by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test (W = 0, p < .001). The qualitative results showed that the students thought that matching activities and quizzes were the most efficient types of vocabulary acquisition. Most of them did not have any serious issues, although some of them had issues with internet connectivity and understanding unfamiliar vocabulary. Overall, the results indicate that the use of Quizlet, Kahoot, and Wordwall as MALL tools can be useful to improve vocabulary retention and active participation in Ecuadorian EFL classrooms.