The Future of Education

As seen in every aspect of life, technology has triggered revolutionary developments that shape and direct learning environments. Development of information technologies and the internet has triggered the spread of the languages all around the world through online communication. This has made English language one of the most popular international languages that has become  the most widely taught, learnt, and used  language that the world has ever known. In teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) getting students to practice the language outside the classroom is seen as a challange as learners hardly ever find opportunities to be exposed to the target language away from the classroom atmosphere. Therefore, foreign language teachers are looking for innovative ways to involve the developing technology in the language teaching process in order to increase their learners' engagement and interest. One way to promote effective self-study  for the students to  enlarge their vocabulary size is web-based learning tools such as Quizlet, which is a platform that keeps students engaged and motivated by letting them create their own vocabulary sets, collaborate with other students, play Quizlet Live, and help them learn and practice new words  in a more fun and more efficient way. This quasi experimental study focuses on the effect of Quizlet on vocabulary retention. At a higher institution 75 EFL students participated in the study and 13 adjectives were used as experimental words. The sample was randomly assigned to control and two experimental groups that are Reading Group (RG), Vocabulary File Group  (VFG), and Quizlet Group (QG) respectively. Reading Group's task involves a reading text, explicit vocabulary instruction and comprehension exercises. Vocabulary File Group's task consists of the reading text, explicit vocabulary instruction, comprehension exercises followed with a vocabulary file prepared by learners involving target vocabulary items. Quizlet Group's task involves the same reading text, explicit vocabulary instruction, comprehension questions and vocabulary study set on Quizlet. Subjects were given a vocabulary knowledge scale and were asked to read a passage. After finishing reading and comprehension exercises, subjects were given an immediate posttest. Four weeks later the subjects were given the same test as delayed posttest and the data was analyzed by ANOVA and Scheffe Post Hoc Tests to determine the differences between groups in terms of retention.

Keywords: online learning tools, EFL, vocaulary, retention;

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