The Impact of Using SMS on Learning English Vocabulary of Iranian High School Third-Graders and Their Attitudes toward Mobile Learning

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference between two methods of vocabulary teaching: SMS-based teaching and traditional way of teaching. The design of this study was true experimental. 78 students majoring science and math from two boarding high schools of Afshar district in Zanjan province were homogenized. Finally, 60 selected participants randomly were divided into two groups of experimental (SMS group) and control (paper group). Then, they were administrated a pre-test to prove that both groups were at the same level of vocabulary knowledge. The results of the independent t-test indicated that there was not any significant difference between the two groups’ mean scores on the pre-test of vocabulary. Then, the SMS group studied a selected list of vocabulary via SMS while paper group received the instruction on the same list of vocabulary through paper in the classroom. Results of the post-test revealed that the control group significantly outperformed the experimental group. In conclusion, traditional teaching was more effective than SMS-based teaching in deprived district of Afshar. Therefore, SMS can be used as a supplementary tool in vocabulary teaching. Finally, the participants of experimental group were asked to complete a written questionnaire. Analysis of questionnaire items through chi-square proved that the suggested method affected the students’ attitude towards mobile learning.

Keywords:

SMS , mobile learning , vocabulary learning , attitude