Teaching vocabulary through mobile applications: a methodological classification of vocabulary applications on google play

Abstract

With the invention of smartphones, education has undergone a radical change in terms of its nature, techniques, principles and education policies. Smartphones are regarded as a distinctive milestone in the history of education. Mobile applications act as the main tool in the integration of smartphones into education. Among all mobile applications, the ones created for educational purposes, especially language instruction holds the lion's share in number. Similarly, among all language instruction applications, vocabulary applications significantly outnumber the others both in number and functionality. However, one of the main problems with vocabulary applications in application markets is that there is no exact classification of published applications and no set of methodological criteria in the publication process of applications, resulting in the emergence of a learning environment that lacks methodological background. The main objective of this study is to offer a methodological classification for the vocabulary applications in Google Play.