Investigating applications of mobile translator for assisting english vocabulary learning

Abstract

This study aims to apply mobile translator (comprising Mobile dictionary and Camera instant translator) to assist EFL students to learn English vocabulary in the normal classroom. How students used mobile translator to translate English words and sentences to Thai for learning and their perceptions toward the mobile translator were explored. There are main findings of this study; most students who used Camera instant translator perceived that transcripts were useful for vocabulary learning. They used Camera instant translator for understanding the lesson story and finding an answer to story questions. The students of Camera instant translator group significantly outperformed the Mobile dictionary group. Herein, the implications and limitation of this study are also discussed for future research.