University Students’ Multimedia Use in Learning English Vocabulary: A Case Study of University Students in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to: a) explore how university students learn English vocabulary through multimedia; b) examine the improvement in vocabulary knowledge and vocabulary retention of university students through the use of multimedia; c) explore university students’ perceptions towards learning English vocabulary through multimedia. First, 250 undergraduate students in five public and private universities in Chiang Mai, Thailand were purposively selected. Questionnaires and interviews were employed to investigate students’ strategies in learning English vocabulary through multimedia. Then, 34 undergraduate students were selected to participate in the experimental study to see the improvement in English vocabulary knowledge after applying the strategies in learning English vocabulary through multimedia. The achievement tests which consisted of a pretest, posttest and retention test were employed. Moreover, the questionnaires were used to explore their perceptions towards using multimedia to improve vocabulary knowledge. There were three significant findings. First, most of the students had experiences in learning English vocabulary through various types of multimedia and they employed various strategies such as using online dictionaries and online applications when they learned vocabulary through multimedia.  Second, learning English vocabulary through multimedia helped the students achieve significant improvement in vocabulary test, and it had a positive effect on the retention of students’ vocabulary knowledge. Third, the students completely agreed that using multimedia in learning vocabulary is a good and effective method.