Hong Kong Learner's Perceptions, Experiences and Motivation with Mobile App Vocabulary Learning

Abstract

Second- and foreign language learners in higher education often have limited time for vocabulary development and retention, which may constitute a major challenge. This article reports on undergraduate students' perceptions of a vocabulary learning application developed in-house, Alphabet vs Aliens @PolyU. 14 undergraduate students at an English-medium university in Hong Kong participated. A qualitative methodology of semi-structured interviews captured a holistic overview of student perceptions of the app. The results suggest that Hong Kong university students are strongly motivated to acquire second-language (L2) vocabulary. Participants also indicated a preference for mobile applications that use gamified features. The study offers considerations for future research into apps for English language learning..