An evaluative study of a mobile application for middle school students struggling with English vocabulary learning

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a mobile application (app) designed within the framework of cognitive apprenticeship, in order to facilitate students struggling with learning English as a foreign language (EFL). The participants were ten seventh-graders, who were performing significantly below grade level in their EFL classroom. The research questions targeted changes in learning outcomes with the aid of the app, attitudes the participants had towards the learning experience, and student perceptions regarding the design of the app. Data were collected by interviews, observation, surveys, and exams. The results indicated use of the app enhanced EFL learning. Not only did the app provide a feasible path for the students moving from individual learning to cooperative learning, it also bolstered their confidence in learning, ultimately promoting positive attitudes toward EFL learning. Finally, the design of the app was confirmed as an effective tool for mobile instruction, yet student perceptions of the interface design indicated a need for modification to be more adaptive. The findings confirm the legitimacy of the app's instructional design and may provide evidence-based learning materials to scaffold EFL learning.