Vocabulary Acquisition Strategies in Mobile-Assisted Language Learning:Balancing Learner Autonomy and Teacher Guidance

Abstract

One of the aspects being researched in the literature on the subject is the vocabulary learning strategies used in Mobile-Assisted Language Learning. These are methods of learning used in language acquisition that entail the use of portable computers. After having thoroughly reviewed the literature on the subject, five different types of methods come into play. These types of methods centers on adaptive spaced repetition methods, vocabulary acquisition in context capture methods, collaboration in mapping words methods, engagement methods in multimodal stimulation, and gamified learning methods. Every different method employs different levels of independence and controlled variables. But every different method also employs learner level. Close observation brings out the fact that the learning of vocabulary effectively is neither through fully autonomous procedures nor through teacher-controlled procedures for the learning of vocabulary but through the controlled independence of the procedures through which the learner is involved. The outcome offers pedagogical insight to the learning of vocabulary in the context of MALL in the sense that the strategies should involve 60-70% learner autonomy.