Morteza Akhshik - Tehran, Iran

In this study, the researcher has investigated mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) and also conducted an interview to obtain the attitudes of undergraduate engineering students at Azad University of Tehran-South Branch towards the use of their mobile devices and in particular Quizlet application to learn English vocabulary. First, a questionnaire was distributed among a convenience sample of 70 engineering students on their attitudes toward learning languages and the use of mobile applications to learn vocabulary. The results showed that all of the participants had a smartphone that can be used to install language learning applications and liked the idea of using it to learn languages. In the next step, the vocabulary for the Professional Engineering English was accessible to the students in the Quizlet app. At the end of the semester, ten students from the sample participated in the interview. The vocabulary exams’ scores were compared to those of the students in the previous semester and it did not reveal a significant difference. Contrary to the exam scores, the interview showed that the students were so eager to use mobile applications and considered Quizlet as a very effective, suitable, and fun learning method. The findings of this research approved that the use of mobile applications in language learning is advantageous with reference to students’ motivation and have semi-permanent benefits. More studies are recommended to be done considering the larger scale and a longer period of time to support the significant effect of mobile-assisted language learning.

Quizlet; Foreign language learning; Mobile application