Learning (semi-)technical music words with mobile dictionary and/or machine-translation apps : performances and perceptions

Abstract

This article examines the use of mobile dictionary and/or machine-translation (MT) apps to facilitate the learning of (semi-)technical music words. A total of 93 Chinese students were randomly assigned into three groups (31 each): the Dictionary Group, the MT Group, and the Dictionary + MT Group. They translated sentences containing the target semi-technical or technical words with the help of mobile dictionary or MT apps or both. It was found that the Dictionary Group had the best retention rates of semi-technical and technical words; the Dictionary + MT Group was in-between; and the MT Group had the worst retention rates. Analysis of dictionary look-up behaviors further showed that the Dictionary Group looked up twice as many (semi-)technical words as the Dictionary + MT Group. These findings are explained from the perspective of Cognitive Load Theory to show how the Dictionary Group had the best level of mental resources germane to vocabulary learning. Despite the inter-group differences of retention rates, perception surveys showed that the groups did not differ in their attitudes towards the dictionary or MT apps, suggesting that student performances and perceptions were misaligned. Based on the research findings, the article offers pedagogical implications for mobile-assisted learning of specialized words.