TY - CHAP

T1 - The role of learners’ memory in app-based language instruction: the case of Duolingo.

AU - Vasileiou, Iro

AU - Pili-Moss, Diana

PY - 2022/12/12

Y1 - 2022/12/12

N2 - The current study investigated the role of visual short-term memory, working memory, and declarative memory as individual differences in the earliest stages of vocabulary and syntactic learning in Duolingo-based language instruction. Thirty-eight L1-Greek adults completed memory tasks and engaged in learning Navajo on Duolingo. Subsequently, vocabulary and syntax were assessed respectively via a word recognition, a word translation, and a grammaticality judgement task. Multiple regression analyses revealed an advantage for distributed practice both in vocabulary and syntax, after controlling for amount of practice. Further, declarative memory played a significant role in learning syntax and vocabulary, when measured in a word translation task. Extending the analysis for the first time to app-based environments, the results of the present study confirm the importance of declarative memory and distributed practice in adult acquisition of L2 vocabulary and syntax.

AB - The current study investigated the role of visual short-term memory, working memory, and declarative memory as individual differences in the earliest stages of vocabulary and syntactic learning in Duolingo-based language instruction. Thirty-eight L1-Greek adults completed memory tasks and engaged in learning Navajo on Duolingo. Subsequently, vocabulary and syntax were assessed respectively via a word recognition, a word translation, and a grammaticality judgement task. Multiple regression analyses revealed an advantage for distributed practice both in vocabulary and syntax, after controlling for amount of practice. Further, declarative memory played a significant role in learning syntax and vocabulary, when measured in a word translation task. Extending the analysis for the first time to app-based environments, the results of the present study confirm the importance of declarative memory and distributed practice in adult acquisition of L2 vocabulary and syntax.

KW - Didactics of English as a foreign language

KW - digital EFL learning

KW - inguistic skill transfer

KW - ICALL feedback

KW - communicative language teaching

U2 - 10.14705/rpnet.2022.61.1485

DO - 10.14705/rpnet.2022.61.1485

M3 - Article in conference proceedings

SP - 364

EP - 369

BT - Intelligent CALL, granular systems and learner data

A2 - Arnbjörnsdóttir, Birna

A2 - Bédi, Branislav

A2 - Bradley, Linda

A2 - Friðriksdóttir, Kolbrún

A2 - Garðarsdóttir, Hólmfríður

A2 - Thouësny, Sylvie

A2 - Whelpton, Matthew James

PB - Research-publishing.net

CY - Voillans

T2 - EUROCALL Conference 2022

Y2 - 16 August 2022 through 19 August 2022

ER -