Impact of WhatsApp on Learning and Retention of Collocation Knowledge among Iranian EFL Learners

Abstract

During the recent technological years, language learning has been attempted to transform its path from the conventional methods to instrumental applications. Mobile phone provides people to reach and exchange information through chats (WhatsApp). It is a tool or mode that means the facilities are used for main purposes. The unique features of the application are its compatibility to exchange information, enhance communication and relationship. A mobile phone provides to download, upload and store learning materials and information files. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the use and effect of mobile applications such as WhatsApp on school work and out of school work. In this way, Oxford Placement Test (OPT) was conducted among 80 learners in order to select intermediate EFL learners. In total, 60 participants whose scores were 70 or higher were elected as the intermediate level and were divided into experimental and control groups. In order to control the reliability of the collocation pretest, the test was pilot studied on 15 learners. Then, the pretest was conducted to measure the learner's collocation knowledge in both of the groups. The experimental group frequently installed WhatsApp application in order to learning and practicing new collocations in order to learning and practicing new collocations, while the control group did not use any tool for learning them. An immediate posttest after the treatment was administered. The results in each group were statistically evaluated and the findings manifested that the experimental group who used WhatsApp application in learning collocation significantly outperformed the control group in posttest. Thus usage of WhatsApp application to acquire collocations can reinforce and enhance the process of collocations acquisition and it can guarantee retention of collocations. This study also prepares pedagogical implications for utilizing mobile application as an influential instrument in learning a second language.

The effects of Facebook and WhatsApp on success in English vocabulary instruction

“…This finding is supported by the findings of the study conducted by Sim and Pop (2014) in which they researched the impact of Facebook on vocabulary acquisition of university students and found out that although the success of the students in both traditional and Facebook groups increased, there was no significant difference between successes of the groups. However, the findings of this research indicate that the success of the students in WhatsApp group increased significantly compared with other groups that is in parallel with a similar study conducted by Ashiyan and Salehi (2016). In their study, they researched the impact of WhatsApp on learning and retention of collocation knowledge of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students and found out that the experimental group who used WhatsApp application in learning collocations significantly outperformed the control group in posttest.…”

Receiving and Responding to WhatsApp Official Group Messages Among Employees: An Early Interpretation Analysis

“…Embracing appropriate languages is so important to show the values of politeness of Malays or Malaysians in speaking [20]. At the same time, this study can interpret that the elements of maintaining the harmony and cohesion of the workgroups are so important [4,8,9] even though in virtual groups. This study has found that although in a phase towards the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), employees still want to maintain social values, especially when using WhatsApp.…”

“…The second element in this theme is awareness to respect the differences between each individual. When each staff respects others and others' differences via WhatsApp conversations, it can encourage the sense of belonging and harmonious working environment [8,9]. All Informants said this.…”

“…Dissemination of the information is only permissible if the sender and receiver able to connect and access the Internet from anywhere. Through WhatsApp app, each and every person in the world can communicate either in a form of interpersonal communication or group-based with their social networks or new people in their business environments [8]. Most surveys and discussions related to the WhatsApp usage are widely done among youth, school students, and university students.…”

“…Most surveys and discussions related to the WhatsApp usage are widely done among youth, school students, and university students. The scholars have found that the senders and the recipients of the WhatsApp messages can be connected on a real-time basis, and the use of time is more synchronous [1,14], the information to be sent can be accessed anywhere [7], decision-making process can be executed regardless of distance [6], the roles of an individual as knowledge givers and knowledge takers can be expandable [6], appropriate vocabulary and grammar in writing on social media become an issue if there is no proper training [7], lack of verifying information before share with others [17], and a sense of belonging and community can be created [4,8,9]. The studies that were done in the context of organizations found some other effects on the usage of WhatsApp compared to research findings at the schools or university context.…”