Iranian language learners' attitude, motivasion and performance toward learning vocabulary using computer assisted language learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Iranian students? attitude, motivation and their performance in using web-based Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) to learn English language vocabulary. This study included three questionnaires: the student background questionnaire, the questionnaire on student attitude toward the use of computers, and the questionnaire on student motivation. They addressed the following research questions: (1) what are the students? attitudes toward using the computer to learn English vocabulary. (2) what are the students? motivations toward using computer to learn English vocabulary. (3) what are the students? performances toward using computer as an aid instruction to learn vocabulary. The respondents of the study were Iranian college postgraduates from Universiti Technologi Malaysia in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate the questions concerning students? attitudes and motivation with the web-based CALL program. Sample-paired T-test was used to explore the students? performance before and after the treatment. The results of the current study led to some interesting findings with some implications, future pedagogy, and future research. The study showed that the respondents possessed high attitude and motivation towards English using computer. Students also showed a good performance in learning the English language vocabulary, and students of higher attitude and motivation in learning tend to learn English language vocabulary through CALL. The research showed that web-based CALL could be used in the ESL to improve the students? interests and confidence to learn English by using computer.