Using The Internet and Learning English
Using The Internet and Learning English
Submitted by:
Fereshteh Torabi
Superviser:
June 2014
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 2
Abstract:
One of important area in language learning is vocabulary learning whose importance
has always emphasized by English teachers. This study is a study of the effect of using
learners in high school. In this research I use experimental method. 10 freshman high
school students participate in the experiment. They are 16 years old girls and in
elementary level. They don’t have any English class experience in institute. They are all
volunteered to the study. The test items designed according to junior high school English
book.
In this study I used correlation. First, for the first research question I used matched T-
test and I conducted a pre-test and a post- test. Next for the second research question I
used Pearson correlation and compute the correlation between the score of the students
from the site and the post-test. The analysis of the result show that learning English
vocabularies was affected by using the website and they can learn better.
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 3
Acknowledgments:
This research was compiled by junior student of Bu-Ali Sina University majoring in
I have to acknowledge our professor, Dr. Mohammad Hadi Mahmoodi, who made
Table of Contents
Abstract........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................ 3
Table of content........................................................................................................................................... 4
List of figures................................................................................................................................................ 5
Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 6
Limitation of study….................................................................................................................................. 10
Research Questions..................................................................................................................................... 12
Research Hypotheses.................................................................................................................................. 13
Methodology............................................................................................................................................... 13
Participants.................................................................................................................................................. 13
Procedure.................................................................................................................................................... 14
Result……………….................................................................................................................................. 15
Reference.................................................................................................................................................... 19
Appendix..................................................................................................................................................... 21
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 5
Table 2: statistics......................................................................................................................................... 16
Table 3: T-test............................................................................................................................................. 17
1.1 Introduction
Nowadays the computer is used in most language classrooms, and it is considered standard
tool in many countries. Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is not a new development
in language teaching, as it has been used since the 1960s and 70s (Chapelle, 1997).
By passage of time and emergence of the Internet people especially educators use the
1994). The Internet is a connection of thousands of computers from different level of society
such as education, business, government and military. It is the era of computer communication
and the Internet has changed the uses of computers for language learning at the 20th century.
Recently, the Internet is one of the important new technologies. Because the Internet
influences education, business, economic, society, politic, culture in all over the world.
Nowadays most of the people specially educators familiar with the Internet and know how they
can use it. One can get a wide verity of information such as: NEWS, scientific events,
advertisement and etc. through search on the Internet. It seems that the Internet has a wide effect
on people’s lives especially in the field of education and learning for educational purpose.
One easily by searching on search engines can find a lot of web sites and sources that
designed just for learning purpose, specially learning new language. These websites can help the
learner to learn new language or go upward from one level to higher level. There are online and
free materials such as dictionaries, audio files for, free e-books and article files, online courses,
online games for practicing language, online web sites that learner can be submitted their writing
and speaking practice to a teacher or an expert to receive their feedback, online virtual classroom
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 7
with a native teacher, software that educator specially teachers use them to hold an online
classroom by means of the Internet for language learning and a lot of materials.
Students can read web versions of daily newspapers and same-day news reports from
sources such as the French Embassy's gopher service, the daily Revue de Press (Armstrong and
Yetter-Vassot, 1994). As Armstrong and Yetter referred, learner can know more about the
culture of target language. Also learner can aware of their cultural, political, historical point of
Learner can find a lot of information on different web sites. On the Internet they can find
online library. Learners can search in online library and get any kind of information. The Internet
can be used as a tool for communication among learners and teachers from all over the world.
Learner can be communicated with native speaker or teacher. Learners can easily know about the
culture of the language that they want to learn and this will help him or her to know more about
that language. Learner can be communicated with native speaker or teacher. Learners can easily
know about the culture of the language that they want to learn and this will help him or her to
Learner can load their information in the Internet as a web site, blog and so forth. They can
register in many web sites that can log in as a user and communicate with other user. They can
take test and evaluate their knowledge about target language. Learner can submit their writing or
listening exercise. Online or offline native teachers can help learner and give them feedback.
Many sites are available for learner and teacher to join and the teacher hold an online virtual
classroom in specific time. Learner can join from all over the world with different culture. They
Communication with native speakers cause language learners to learn how communicate,
how request information, how make friendship, which structure rule, vocabulary and so forth,
they can use. Most of the content in the Internet is in written form, and majority of them are in
English. Use of the Internet can help learner to improve their skills. They faced with a lot of new
vocabularies when they are surfing on the Internet. Vocabulary is one of the basic elements of
skills. There are numerous web sites that learners can practice everyday vocabulary by
registering in the web sites. The web sites send an email to their inbox to alarm the learner for
It seems that most of the countries use the Internet for educational purpose more or less.
Iranian educators know how to use the Internet for common application such as: checking email,
chat and research purposes but less of them aware of how to use it for learning a language.
It seems that learners face with some problem to learn through the Internet, maybe they are
not aware of such materials, lack of good internet speed, teachers and students do not have
enough knowledge to use the Internet, in schools and universities computer is just for field of
Base on my experience and numerous studies that other researchers did about the
relationship between learning vocabulary and using the Internet, I think that use of computers or
the Internet has a large impact on acquisition of English, especially vocabulary knowledge. In
this study, I want to find out, is the use of the Internet affects the English vocabulary skills of
learners.
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 9
I chose vocabulary, since it is one of the most important areas in language teaching.
Vocabulary learning strategies is one of favorite ways among Iranian learner to learn a language.
There has not been much study about Persian language learners. Lewis (1993) referred to,
1.4.1 Vocabulary
Richards et al. (1992) has defined this term as a set of lexemes which includes single words,
Learning a package of sub-sets of words as well as learning how to use strategies to cope
The term “vocabulary learning strategies” refers to “any set of techniques or learning
behaviors, which language learners use to understand the meaning of a new word, to restore the
1.4.4 CALL
computer technology in learning or teaching a foreign language to students. Davis said that
computer “has become a fixture in many homes” nowadays, has significant effect on education
j_article26.htm#article1).
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 10
There were some limitations for this research. First, the sample population makes the
validity of the research doubtful because the population size is small, for a valid and reliable
result, the great numbers of participants is needed. Second, for the evaluation of learning result I
used just multiple-choice. Third, in this study good knowledge of CALL is needed, specially
knowing about internet staffs. Fourth, in this method, researcher can measure the gain due to
treatment. However, without a control group, justified statement about results cannot be made
(Farhadi, 1388, p.131). Finally, the research is conducted for only one week. It would be
The CALL is one of the phases of this framework. This model used the computer as a tutor,
presenting drills and non-judgmental feedback. This approach still uses the computer as a tutor,
although it gives students choices, control and interaction. The current approach is integrative
CALL, which is based on multimedia computers and the Internet. These technological
developments have brought text, graphics, sound, animation and video to be accessed on a single
The lexical approach (lewis 1993) refers to the belief that the building blocks of language
learning and communication are not grammar, functions or notions or some other unit but lexis
( Jack C. Richard). In multimedia tasks the same content is presented through texts, graphics,
sounds and motions, which offer opportunities for a variety of learning styles and build multiple
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 11
paths in memory. As students simultaneously see and hear the same information, it is easier to
Previous researches showed different result. The result of some research showed that there is
a relationship between the use of the Internet and learning vocabulary. From the study we can
see that web-based language learning is popular way in teaching and learning a foreign language.
A research presents the important role of computers in foreign language learning, especially
the role of web in vocabulary learning for intensive reading. It states the situation of web in
foreign language learning and makes a comparison between the traditional ways of vocabulary
learning and the web-based vocabulary learning in intensive reading (Inner Mongolia, 2011,
p.254).
Another study shows incorporating technology into the learning process as well as wide
access to the Internet does accompany students on their ways of improving English. On the other
hand, students still have doubts how to refer to numbers of vocabulary units found in many
English course books (Praca licencjacka, 2007, p. 4). A study discusses the impact of multimedia
treatment shows clearly to have a significant impact on vocabulary learning of the learners
(Tabar, H and Khodareza, M, 2012, p.1). While in some researches, it was not showed that the
use of the Internet helps learning English vocabulary, there were many inspiring findings. As
Haydar Ates (2012) referred to many students often use computers for games and computer
should be used to cover the classroom activity, but should not be used as basic of teaching in
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 12
primary schools. If the students are not experienced with technology in the classroom, class time
is often wasted on technical troubles. In addition, the teacher faces the difficulty of having a class
full of students who are all at different skill levels. In many schools, most students don’t have a
computer experience. Teachers may have a great amount of their student body with little
done at a pace that meets every individual's needs or more learning time will be wasted (Haydar
Ates, 2012, p.695). As Jim Ranalli(2009) citing in his paper “The results provide insights into
the benefits that might be gained from an online multimedia approach to learner training, as well
as useful design and content considerations for future enhancements to the site.”
There are a lot of findings in researches so that there is a gap in those researches; in this
regard I try to do research on Iranian students. It seems that Web-based vocabulary learning has
never been done among Iranian students. We want to prove whether this way of vocabulary
learning and learning on the Internet by a website can motivate the learners’ interest of learning
vocabulary in comparison to the traditional way (GTM) of interpreting, memorizing and reciting
words.
Is there any significant relationship between the use of the Internet and vocabulary
knowledge?
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 13
There is no relationship between the use of the Internet and vocabulary learning of
Iranian students.
There is no significant relationship between the use of Livemocha site and the
In this experiment the vocabulary learning is dependent variable and use of the Internet is
independent variable.
Methodology
3.1 Participants
10 freshman high school students participated in the experiment. They are 16 years old girls
and in elementary level. They didn’t have any English class experience in institute. They were all
volunteered to the study. The test items designed according to freshman high school English
book.
By conducting a vocabulary close ended test, I gave freshman high school students a pre-test
and after treatment a post-test conducted. The test designed base on freshman high school book.
The treatment is using Livemocha website for a week. This website is design for learning
language through use of the Internet and it gives the student score when they learning new items.
For learning through use of the Internet we need good internet knowledge and speed.
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 14
In this research I used pre-experimental method, one- group pretest and posttest study. The
experimental method is the only method of research that can truly test hypotheses and answer a
research question. It represents the correct way to the solution of a research question. The
experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable
3.4 Procedures
First I gave a letter of introduction from my professor and delivered it to the school
management. I selected the subjects randomly from particular class in the Fatemat Alzahra high
school in Kabodrahang city. I put all the names in a dish and draw the names up to 10. Second,
by conducting a vocabulary test, I distributed a pre-test to junior high school students. The pre-
test is a vocabulary test according to junior high school English book. The computers and the
Internet are available there. Then, I taught the students to use the Livemocha site. The students
asked question and I answered any questions about the site. The students worked on the site for a
week. After all, I conducted a post test. I distributed another vocabulary test. Then, I gathered the
test paper and collected the paper from the students. Finally, I planned to elicit necessary
information, collected the data and recorded the data. At the end of the procedure I summarized
the data from answer sheet and as mentioned before according to design of the study.
In this study I used Pearson correlation. First, for the first research question I used Pearson
correlation and compute the correlation between the final score of the students from the site and
the post-test. Next for the second research question, I used matched T-test between the scores of
4.1 Results
Tests that are based on the normal distribution of variables in the population called
parametric tests. To use these methods, the researcher must make assumptions. Some of these
assumptions are:
1. The data that used in this research is consistent and regular or in other words, the scale of
measurement is relative. Based on this assumption, parametric tests are limited to the interval
scale or relative.
2. The variable is normally distributed in population (Delavar, 2009, pp. 481-482). The data
that used in this research is consistent and regular. In other words, the condition for necessary
scale measurement is proper. Because another parametric test conditions is the normal
distribution of the data, therefore, to examine the assumption in considering that the sample size
The purpose of this test is to determine whether the data are normal or not. According to the
results in Table 1, it can be stated that the pre-and post-test scores are normalized, because the
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 16
significance level for all Z values in each is larger than 05/0 (p > 05/0). But the site final rating
scores are not normal, so it can be concluded that parametric tests can be used to analyze the
research hypothesis.
The site first rating scores given to all participants equal to 40,999; therefore cannot be taken
for the test. Both Shapiro Wilk and matched T-test for independent groups cannot be calculated
Status of first and final site scores and scores of the students:
Table 2: Descriptive Statistics for first and final site scores and scores of the students:
Minimum and maximum test scores of the students’ pre-test are10 and 18 respectively, the
mean is 13.7, the median is 13, the variance is 4.9 and the standard deviation is 2.21. The
Minimum and maximum test scores of the students’ post- tested are 11 and 19 respectively. The
mean is 15.2, the median is 15, the variance is 5.06 and the standard deviation is 2.25. The site
first scores given to all participants equal to 40,999, both mean and median number is 40999.
Variance and the standard deviation is zero. The minimum and maximum of the site final points
is 27,041 and 321,890, respectively. Mean is 3/91478 and median is 5/34707. Variance is
Hypothesis 1: There are significant differences between pre- test and post-test scores of
students.
Table 3: Comparison of pre-and post-test mean scores of the students using the t test for dependent groups
According to information contained in Table 3, the mean of students post- test scores is
(15.2) greater than the pre-test scores (7/13) and the results of t- test dependent groups showed a
comparison of the means, it means that the score of students in post-test is getting better than
pre-test.
Hypothesis 2: There is a meaningful relationship between the students test scores and the site
Table 4: examine the relationship between the students test scores and the site final points using the
Pearson correlation test.
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 18
According to the Pearson correlation test results in Table 4, there is a significant positive
correlation between the post- test scores of the students and final point on website ( p =0.042
and r =0.650) because (p < 05/0) . Therefore, with the accretion of the site final point, the test
scores will rise, and vice versa, and the 42.2% of the variance in students' test scores can be
As I mentioned before numerous studies researchers did about the relationship between
learning vocabulary and using the Internet. But this kind of research is not conducted on Iranian
EFL learners. I think that use of computers or the Internet has a large impact on acquisition of
English, especially vocabulary knowledge as Lewis (1993) referred to, “Lexis is the core or heart
of language”. In this new era, technology is something inevitable. Teachers and students can use
CALL for learning a language. The research question which was to be investigated is: Is there
any significant relationship between the use of the Internet and vocabulary learning of Iranian
students? Base on the results, there is a significant difference between the pre- test and post- test.
The post-test score is increased in comparison with pre-test score after using the Livemocha site
as data analysis shows in table 4, there is a positive relationship between using the internet and
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 19
References:
Ates, H. (2012). information technology and the learning environment in primary high school.
www.nefmi.gov.hu/downlad.php?docID=99
Farhadi, H. (1388). Research Methods in Applied Linguistic 1&2. Tehran. Payame Noor
University
Hadid, T. N. & Saber, M. S. (2012). The Effect of Using Vocabulary Teaching Software on
vocabulary learning with the help of the authorial on-line application of the
Meena. S. (1997).The Internet and Foreign Language Education Benefits and Challenges: USA
The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. III, No. 6, June 1997, The University of Arizona.
Studies; Vol. 5, No. 5; 2012 ISSN 1913-9020 E-ISSN 1913-9039 ,Canadian Center of
Ranalli, J, (2009). Prospects for Developing L2 Students’ Effective Use of Vocabulary Learning-
Strategies via Web-Based Training. Iowa State University. CALICO Journal. 27(1), p-p.
161-186.
Richard, J & Rodgers, T. (2001). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, United
Solange, M. (2001). Computer-Assisted Language Learning (Call) And The Internet Cultura
http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/CALL.html
Tabar, H & Khodareza, M. (2012). The Effect of Using Multimedia on Vocabulary Learning of
Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate Iranian EFL Learners. J. Basic. Appl. Sci. Res.,
http://www.textroad.com/pdf/JBASR/J.%20Basic.%20Appl.%20Sci.%20Res.,%202(12)12
879-12891,%202012.pdf
Warschauer, M & Kern,R. (200). Network-based Language Teaching: Concepts and Practice.
http://www.gse.uci.edu/ed168/resume.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-assisted_language_learning
http://www.iatefl.org.pl/call/ j_article26.htm#article1
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 21
Appendixes:
5- Children should have books with pretty pictures. “Pretty” is the opposite of ---------.
12- “Do you remember her name?”– No, I’m sorry. “I-------- names soon.”
13- These problems aren’t easy for us. We can’t ---------- them.
Good luck
Using the Internet and Learning English vocabulary 24
12) The snow is very …………… The bus can't come here.
Good luck