Mobile devices are considered as the most widely used information and communication technologies. They have provided great advantages in language learning. This study reports a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of using mobile devices on vocabulary learning. A meta-analysis was conducted on research that compared the outcomes from students learning vocabulary using mobile devices to those learning vocabulary using traditional ways of learning. The meta-analysis examined how effect sizes varied based on learners’ age, type of vocabulary learning (receptive or productive), and aspects of vocabulary used (form, meaning, and use). This meta-analysis examined the effect of using mobile devices on vocabulary learning by reviewing 16 studies involving 986 participants. The use of mobile devices in learning vocabulary was associated with greater achievement in comparison with traditional ways. The findings of the meta-analysis indicate a medium effect of using mobile devices on vocabulary learning (g = .67). Major findings of the current meta-analysis include the following: (a) Mobile devices have moderate effect sizes on both ways of vocabulary learning (productive and receptive), (b) adult learners get benefit from using mobile devices in vocabulary learning better than young learners, and (c) mobile devices have moderate effect on all aspects of vocabulary learning.

Purpose Based on an experimental study on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) students, at the Business Department at the University of Bisha, the purpose of the study is to examine the effect of chatbot use on learning ESP in online classrooms during COVID-19 and find out how Dialogflow chabot can be a useful and interactive online platform to help ESP learners in learning vocabulary well. Design/methodology/approach The research paper is based on an experimental study of two groups, an experiential group and a controlled group. Two tests were carried out. Pre-tests and post-test of vocabulary knowledge were conducted for both groups to explore the usefulness of using the Dialogflow chatbot in learning ESP vocabulary. A designed chatbot content was prepared and included all the vocabulary details related to words' synonyms and a brief explanation of words’ meanings. An informal interview is another tool used in the study. The purpose of using the interview with the participants was to elicit more data from the participants about using the chatbot and about how and in what aspects chatbot using the conversational program was useful and productive. Findings The findings of the study explored that the use of chatbots plays a major role in enhancing and learning ESP vocabulary. That was clear as the results showed that the students who used the chatbot Dialogflow in the experimental group outperformed their counterparts in the control group. Research limitations/implications The study displays an important pedagogical implication as the use of chatbots could be applied in several settings to improve language learning in general or learning ESP courses in particular. Chatbot creates an interesting environment to foster build good interactions where negotiation of meaning takes place clearly seems to be of great benefit to help learners advance in their L2 lexical development. Originality/value Examining and exploring whether the use of chatbots plays a major role in enhancing and learning ESP vocabulary in English as Foreign Language setting.

The integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into language teaching and learning depends on many factors. Some of these factors are associated with teachers. Teachers play a crucial role in the integration of ICT. This study investigates the impact of teacher's age, experience, and gender on the integration of ICT into language teaching. This study utilized a mixed-method approach of investigation, which applies both qualitative and quantitative methods. The instruments used for data collection were a survey and an interview. The survey was administered to 46 in-service EFL teachers working at Najran University, Saudi Arabia. Ten out of these participants were interviewed. The results indicate that there is no significant difference in using ICT between the two groups of teachers according to their age and experience. However, the results indicate that there is a difference between male and female teachers in using ICT in language teaching. Female teachers reported less use of ICT in their instruction than male teachers. Some suggestions are offered to improve the situation of ICT integration into language learning in EFL contexts.