Usage of mobile applications in language teaching: A research on teaching collocations

Language is cultural instrument which provides a communication among people. In this context, many languages have been arisen by human beings to communicate with one another. However, teaching a language is long process which includes different skills. A language which contains four skills such as reading, listening, writing and speaking needs certain sub-skills like grammar and vocabulary during the process of language teaching. In this regard, in the research paper which is done, it was focused on the importance of vocabulary knowledge and the usage of mobile applications in teaching collocations. One of the very common tools which technology brings with is mobile devices. The applications which we use on mobile devices have been integrated to educational environments in time and it has been started to be used by teachers. In this research, it is aimed to teach collocation via a mobile text message application. Accroding to the findings, it has been determined that the students who use mobile applications during the learning process provides a meaningful learning compared to those who learn the collocations in the classroom. In the research which covers 54 students, it has been given vocabulary cards to treatment group via mobile application and to control group in class. At the end of the teaching process, it has been applied an academic achievement test to students and it has been determined that there is a significant difference between the groups (p<0.5). Additionally, it has been carried out an individual interview with a number of students who are in treatment group, and the interview results have been used for the evaluation of the teaching collocation process. It may be stated that this paper will provide a new point of view to vocabulary teaching. The students who mostly use the text messaging application to chat with others have noticed that they may use this kind of applications in educational environment. Moreover, the learning vocabulary process which has been supplied with multimedia materials provides a permanent learning environment to students. In addition this, it is considered that the mobile applications which gives a chance to learn in anywhere and in anytime to people can be used in other educational environment.