Abstract

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), which provides access to learning without the constraints of place and time, is worthy of exploration for pedagogical purposes. Given the use of gaming applications and social media as potential instructional methods for MALL, this study investigated the effect of these two methods, along with traditional classroom-based instruction on the learning of English phrasal verbs. To teach phrasal verbs through three different methods (game-based, social media, and classroom-based), 150 learners of English, selected from a language institute in Isfahan, were assigned to game-based, social media, and classroom-based groups. The game-based group received instruction on phrasal verbs via a mobile gaming application called Phrasal Nerds: Phrasal Verbs. The social media group received instruction via a Telegram channel. Finally, the classroom-based group was taught through the traditional teacher-fronted method. A researcher-made test served as the pretest and posttest to measure the contribution of each instructional method to the learners’ phrasal verb achievements. The analysis of data through t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated improvements in learning English phrasal verbs in the three groups. Although the effects of the three methods were found to be statistically significant, the game-based method was the most effective one for learning English phrasal verbs. The findings highlight the integration of gaming applications into the English teaching curriculum to enhance foreign language lexical learning.

摘要

移动辅助语言学习 (MALL) 提供了不受地点和时间限制的学习途径，值得在教学方面进行探索。鉴于使用游戏应用程序和社交媒体作为 MALL 的潜在教学方法，本研究调查了这两种方法以及传统的课堂教学对英语短语动词学习的影响。为了通过三种不同的方法（基于游戏、社交媒体和基于课堂）教授短语动词，从伊斯法罕的语言学院选出的 150 名英语学习者被分配到基于游戏、社交媒体和基于课堂的小组. 基于游戏的小组通过名为Phrasal Nerds：Phrasal Verbs 的移动游戏应用程序接收有关短语动词的指导. 社交媒体小组通过电报频道接收指令。最后，以课堂为基础的小组通过传统的教师主导的方法进行教学。研究人员制作的测试作为前测和后测，以衡量每种教学方法对学习者短语动词成绩的贡献。通过t检验和协方差分析 (ANCOVA)对数据进行的分析表明，三组学习英语短语动词的能力有所提高。尽管发现这三种方法的效果具有统计学意义，但基于游戏的方法是学习英语短语动词最有效的方法。研究结果强调将游戏应用程序整合到英语教学课程中以增强外语词汇学习。