Effectiveness For The Application Of Mobile Game-Based Learning Among Non-English Major Students’ Vocabulary Learning

Mobile assisted language learning(MALL)has gained much attention across the globe.Breakthroughs have been made for the mobile learning because of the continuous innovation of mobile technologies and the updates of mobile devices.The mobile technologies enable people to learn anytime and anywhere,to make learning potentially available free from the restraint of time and space.Being the most familiar part,both for teachers and students,the mobile applications that target on language learning are widely spread among them.For students,English vocabulary learning has often been an important learning task in language learning.However,the learning outcomes are not always satisfying.Learning English vocabulary effectively has become an important issue for both teachers and students.The mobile application Elevate,which used in this empirical study,provides users with learning content that helps learners to facilitate English vocabulary learning through multiple mini games.Based on Informal Learning Theory and Nation’s Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Theory,this study investigates the application of mobile game-based learning to the college students’ English vocabulary learning.The mobile application Elevate was used as a main source of learning tool,alongside with the New Horizon College Book 1(Reading and Writing)textbook for classroom teaching and learning.The research questions are listed as follows:(1)Can the mobile application Elevate facilitate non-English major students’ learning achievement of vocabulary learning(form,meaning and use)?(2)What impact can mobile application Elevate have on learners’ learning strategies of English vocabulary learning? Forty-one non-English major freshmen participated the study and the experimental stages lasted for 2 months.Each participant was required to finish the three games that Elevate posted daily and was asked to send the screenshots to the WeChat group.The screenshots were collected daily before 8 p.m.every single day.The data was collected with tests and questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS 20.0.The results of the tests and questionnaires showed that the mobile application Elevate has improved participants’ English vocabulary learning and enhanced their use of English vocabulary learning strategies in a positive way.The results of the tests showed that participants outperformed in meaning,form and use of English vocabulary learning.They scored significantly higher in the post-test.And the data of questionnaires indicated that participants’ application of English vocabulary learning strategies has been promoted by Elevate.The study also suggests that teachers shall highly value mobile English vocabulary learning.They play a vital role in mobile language learning for being the provider,instructor,trainer of English vocabulary learning strategies and administrator of the learning activities,particular guidance should be provided to the students by teachers.