Dewi Suryanti, Muhammad Fadli

The Enhancement of University Students’ English Vocabulary Acquisition through Memrise

Introduction

The enhancement of university students’ english vocabulary acquisition through memrise. Discover how Memrise significantly boosts university students' English vocabulary acquisition and communication skills. A study shows positive results for language learning.

Abstract

Vocabulary mastery is one of the key factors in improving English language skills, particularly for university students who are learning a foreign language at the tertiary level. However, based on observations of second-semester students in the Agribusiness Management Study Program at Politeknik Negeri Lampung, it was found that limited vocabulary remains a major obstacle to their ability to construct varied sentences effectively. To address this issue, this study implemented the Memrise application as a digital-based medium for vocabulary learning. Memrise was chosen due to its interactive features, which enable students to learn and retain new vocabulary more effectively through a gamification approach and spaced repetition. This study employed a quasi-experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design on a group of students who received treatment using Memrise. The results revealed that the use of Memrise had a significant positive effect on students’ vocabulary improvement. After the treatment, students were able to use a wider variety of vocabulary in constructing sentences, which directly contributed to greater complexity and diversity in the sentence structures they produced. These findings indicate that the integration of digital technology into language learning can serve as an effective strategy to enhance students’ competence, particularly in enriching vocabulary that supports their English communication skills.

Review

This study addresses a critical challenge in tertiary-level foreign language education: the persistent issue of limited English vocabulary among university students, which significantly impedes their ability to construct diverse and effective sentences. Focusing on second-semester Agribusiness Management students, the research effectively implements the Memrise application as a digital intervention. The abstract clearly outlines the rationale for choosing Memrise, highlighting its interactive features, gamification approach, and spaced repetition – all well-regarded principles for effective vocabulary acquisition. The core finding, that Memrise led to a significant positive effect on vocabulary improvement, resulting in richer sentence construction, positions this research as a valuable contribution to language pedagogy. The strengths of this study are evident in its clear problem statement and the selection of a relevant, feature-rich digital tool to address it. The quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design is appropriate for measuring the immediate impact of such an intervention, providing a straightforward assessment of Memrise's efficacy. The practical implications are particularly noteworthy: by demonstrating how digital technology can enhance vocabulary and subsequently improve sentence complexity, the study offers actionable insights for language educators seeking innovative and effective strategies to boost students' English communication skills. This directly supports the integration of modern digital tools into language learning curricula. While the study offers robust evidence for Memrise's effectiveness, a few considerations could enrich future research or a more detailed presentation. The generalizability of the findings might benefit from replication across different academic programs, proficiency levels, or institutional contexts beyond the specific group examined. Although a quasi-experimental design is mentioned, further clarification on whether a control group was utilized, or the specific design chosen, would enhance methodological transparency. Additionally, exploring students' qualitative experiences, perceptions, and levels of engagement with Memrise, alongside an investigation into the long-term retention of the acquired vocabulary, could provide a more holistic understanding of the intervention's impact. Nevertheless, this study makes a strong case for the strategic integration of digital platforms like Memrise in university English language instruction.

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