چكيده
Nowadays CALL is a well-known expression for EFL teachers and learners. The domain of language learning has been altered dramatically by technology. Accordingly, language learning has been receded from its traditional form. MALL as a prominent subcategory of technology has maximum impact on human’s education. Since, mobiles are accessible, easy to use and portable. Mobiles also have many educational apps. Moreover, learners’ autonomy that is defined as the learners’ ability to govern their own learning can be influenced by technology to a great extent. Additionally, vocabulary as a most momentous component of language can take advantage of mobile apps in many ways. Apps present techniques to learn and remember vocabulary better. This study aims to investigate the effect of word up and vocabulary builder apps on Iranian EFL learners’ vocabulary and autonomy. To reach this purpose, Nelson Proficiency test(400A) (Fowler & Coe, 1976) was given randomly to 120 intermediate learners out of 400 students of New Talk language institute in Urmia to select homogenized learners. Among those learners whose scores are 1SD below and above the mean, i,e,; 90 learners were selected randomly. To estimate the learners’ vocabulary knowledge, the VKS scale as a vocabulary pretest including 100 unfamiliar items was taken. Learners autonomy questionnaire by (Zhang & Li, 2004) was also given to learners to prove that they are homogenized according to their autonomy. The learners were assigned randomly to two experimental groups and one control group. During treatment 77 words, recognized as unknown words for learners by VKS, were taught. After treatment a vocabulary posttest was given to all groups to estimate their vocabulary knowledge. The participants also received the aforementioned autonomy questionnaires again as the post-test of autonomy. The collected data were analyzed through ANOVA and the null hypotheses of the study were rejected. The findings showed both apps had positive effect on learners’ vocabulary and autonomy. However, Word Up app outperformed Vocabulary Builder app.
