The Effect of Multimedia Dictionary-Based Software on the Vocabulary Learning of Persian EFL Learners

Abstract

Vocabulary learning has been one of the important issues in the English Language Teaching. A Variety of ways has been employed to teach lexical items of a language. The current study demonstrated the use of multimedia instructional technology for effective vocabulary teaching. To this end, Oxford Quick Placement test was administered to 50 female and male students studying at a private institute in Iran, Rafsanjan. Thirty pre-intermediate participants were selected. Thirty target words were selected to be taught to four groups of mixed gender via different methods. The experimental groups were provided with multimedia dictionary software. The control groups were assigned to use traditional teaching materials. Data were collected over the course of six sessions via a pre /posttest, and a delayed posttest to measure the participants' long term retention of vocabulary. The findings of ANOVA tests revealed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Females in comparison to males showed some preferences to some designed tasks. Additionally, there are some pedagogical implications for language educators and material designers. They can use the tasks used in multimedia software and expand their experience of teaching with new technological devices to improve learning and teaching vocabulary items of a language.