Enhancing Arabic Vocabulary Learning through Online Games: Students’ Perceptions of the Wordwall Application in Higher Education

In language learning, many different online strategies have been applied to facilitate students’ language learning, especially in vocabulary skills. This is because vocabulary skills are considered one of the most basic skills to acquire, as they are utilised in all the different language skills and provide a better understanding of the language itself. To enhance vocabulary skills, there is significant evidence from the previous studies that asserted the effectiveness of online games to increase students’ engagement in language learning, relatively focusing on writing, reading, and speaking. Hence, this study focuses on the use of the Wordwall application in learning the Arabic language among the students in a public university. The aim of the study is to investigate students' perception of the usage of the Wordwall application in the teaching and learning of the Arabic language at a higher learning institution. Students played online games and filled in a survey to find out if the online games in the Wordwall application provide a fun and attractive learning environment and help to strengthen students’ vocabulary skills. The positive findings provide an extension of data related to the second- or third-language acquisition research inside and outside Malaysia that focuses on Arabic vocabulary learning through the Wordwall application. It is hoped that this study will give insights into the students’ perception of improving and enhancing their Arabic vocabulary using the Wordwall application.

(Arabic vocabulary, Online games, Vocabulary skills

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