Quizlet: An Online Application to Enhance EFL Foundation Students’ Vocabulary Acquisition at Rustaq College of Education, Oman

Abstract

Due to the advance of technology a number of tools have emerged for the purpose of language learning. Quizlet, a language learning tool, aims to help students learn vocabulary. This study aims to investigate the impact of Quizlet on English for Foreign Language (EFL) foundation students’ vocabulary acquisition at Rustaq College of Education in the Sultanate of Oman. Specifically, this study answers one research question: How does the use of Quizlet influence EFL foundation students’ vocabulary learning at Rustaq College of Education in Oman? The foundation students were exposed to a series of Quizlet study sets containing certain topics taken from their prescribed curriculum. Within these, they learnt a number of vocabulary individually and collaboratively. Pre-and post-tests were implemented to gauge foundation students’ performances and acquisition in vocabulary. Additionally, focus groups were also conducted to investigate their vocabulary learning experience pertaining to integrating Quizlet into EFL classrooms. The findings revealed that the foundation students’ performances in vocabulary acquisition significantly increased. Although Quizlet has created a challenging and collaborative learning environment, more language skills should be incorporated in Quizlet to help students to learn vocabulary faster and in an interesting way. This study is significant as it can contribute to the English Language Teaching (ELT) literature pertaining to the innovative and technological tools that can enhance students’ language skills in the 21st century. It is also important to English teachers and their students in finding various ways of teaching and learning vocabulary in and outside classrooms.