Using Memrise Application on Smartphone to Help Students Memorize

Vocabulary

Annisa Nur Aurin

160210401037

Technology Enhanced Language Learning

English Education Program

Faculty of Teacher Training and Education

Jember University

2017
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
Students spent more than half of their own study time on learning English, but
they still didn’t get enough vocabulary which is needed to function in English. It’s proved
that traditional vocabulary learning technique is ineffective, so the researchers use
modern technology to devise new methods. Since a mobile phone is always in one’s
pocket, the accessibility is easier than textbooks and computers. Using mobile phone,
students can learn vocabulary anytime and anywhere they want. Given the advances in
mobile technology, smartphone and appropriate applications can support teaching
vocabulary in the classroom. One of the appropriate application that teacher can use in
teaching vocabulary is “Memrise”. Applying Memrise can help the students memorizing
many vocabularies well because Memrise uses repetitive training method.
1.2 Previous Study
Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) can create a better environment in
learning vocabulary. According to a study conducted in China by Qun Wu, mobile
technology can enhance learners’ vocabulary because of three reasons. First, mobile
application providing the learners a simple wordlist design with only focus in spelling,
pronunciation, and definition, without disturbing them with other contents, such as
synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples which are often included in vocabulary books.
Second, mobile application provides the simple test to evaluate learners’ learning
progress. Third, learners’ can use mobile phone anytime, there is no time limit in learning
vocabulary, longer study time results in more repetitions and the repetitions lead to better
recollection.

2. Method
2.1 How to Use the Application for ELT
We as a teacher can use “Memrise” to help us in teaching vocabulary. In this case,
participants were selected to try Memrise apps for vocabulary learning. The experiment
was conducted with three 5th graders of elementary school. At the beginning, all of the
participants downloaded Memrise apps on their own smartphone. The teaching process
lasts less than 20 minutes because we only learned 5 vocabularies and we did not need to
explain about the application since the participants were familiar with smartphone.
2.2 Language Component that Used in the Application
One way to use smartphone for English language learners is to teach vocabulary.
Vocabulary is very important because having a strong vocabulary allows someone to
develop other skills. We as a teacher can use repetitive learning method to get a strong
vocabulary. Memrise is one of the smartphone’s applications that use repetitive training
method, so we can use Memrise to improve students’ vocabulary. Actually, Memrise is
an application for vocabulary lesson, but Memrise also provides the sound of the word
pronounced and the definition, so it will help students to develop other skills.
 2.3 Assessment
By giving the assessment to the students, the teacher is able to know whether the
students are really remembering all the words or not. At first, the teacher asks the
students to put their phone and rewrite all the words and the definitions they have learned
on a piece of paper. Students are forbidden to see their phone and they have to work
individually. After that, the teacher asks the students to exchange their paper with their
friend’s paper sitting next to them and discuss it together. The teacher and the students
discuss how to pronounce all the words they have learned, how it’s spelling, and calculate
how many vocabularies their friends write with proper spelling and definition. Students
with the greatest number of words and the correct definitions will get a high score.

3. Discussion
3.1 The Explanation about the Application
Memrise is a smartphone’s application to improve students’ vocabulary by
repetitive training method. Memrise provides many courses, and the teacher can choose
what course is suitable for the students. In one course, there will be some topics with the
same list of vocabularies, so all of the students will learn the same words. Every student
will see the definition while listening to a few words on their smartphone screen and after
that, a multiple-choice question will appear. The students must choose the correct answer
or if they choose the wrong one, Memrise will show the definition of that word again and
again until they can choose the correct answer. Memrise not only provides a multiple-
choice question but also guess the word games using audio and video of native speakers,
and word jumble games. That is why Memrise called as an application with repetitive
training method because Memrise will give you a simple test for one word but in many
fun ways.
3.2 The Implementation of the Application in Teaching Vocabulary
There are three reasons why Memrise become a successful application for
teaching vocabulary. First, Memrise uses repetitive training method, so the students can
memorize some vocabularies well. Second, Memrise provides the simplest definition to
make it easier for students to remember and also the audio to know how to pronounce
every word. Third, Memrise provides a simple test in many fun ways to know how deep
students’ memory. However, Memrise also has some disadvantages. First, all of the
students need to bring their smartphone to the class. Second, there is no interaction
between students because they only focus on their own smartphone.
3.3 Result of Assessment
After giving an assessment to the three 5th graders of elementary school, I
concluded that Memrise is an appropriate application to help the students memorizing
many vocabularies well. It’s proved by the number of the words that the participants
write. All the three 5th graders are able to rewrite all the 5 words and their definitions
correctly, although some definitions were written differently from Memrise.
4. Conclusion
Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) is a good way to improve students’
vocabulary. Mobile technique is effective and easy for learning vocabulary because the
principle of ‘anytime anywhere’. Memrise is one of the successful mobile applications that
designed to make learning vocabulary easier and happier because vocabulary is the important
component in learning language. I hope that other teachers would use this application to help
them in teaching vocabulary.

5. References
Valarmathi. K. E. “Mobile Assisted Language Learning.” Journal of Technology for ELT 1.2
(April 2011).
https://sites.google.com/site/journaloftechnologyforelt/archive/
april2011/mobileassistedlanguagelearning
Accessed 15 November 2017

Wu Q (2015) Pulling Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) into the Mainstream:
MALL in Broad Practice. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0128762.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128762
Accessed 18 November 2017

Villamagna D (2017) Review app: Memrise Learn Languages.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/memrise-learn-languages#
Accessed 20 November 2017