A Systematic Review of Mobile-Assisted Vocabulary Learning and Teaching in ESL/EFL Context

Muhammad Nawaz; Malini Ganapathy; Sadaf Manzoor; Tess Ezzy; Shahzad Ul Hassan  Farooqi

doi:10.32890/mjli2025.22.1.3

Authors

Muhammad Nawaz School of Languages Literacies and Translation, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Malini Ganapathy School of Languages Literacies and Translation, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Sadaf Manzoor School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Tess Ezzy Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature, Macquarie University, Australia
Shahzad Ul Hassan Farooqi Department of English, College of Education, Almajmaah University, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2025.22.1.3

Keywords:

ESL/EFL, vocabulary, mobile assistance, bibliometric analysis, systematic review

Abstract

Purpose - The integration of mobile technology in ESL/EFL contexts has garnered significant attention from contemporary researchers, teachers, and learners due to the advancements in technology, dynamic features, and multimodal applications. With this growing interest, there is a need to synthesize the existing literature and identify current trends in the field.

Methodology - This study reviewed research on mobile-assisted second language (L2) vocabulary learning and teaching through two approaches. First, a bibliometric analysis was employed to provide a comprehensive overview of the field, encompassing 774 publications retrieved from the Scopus database. Second, 20 empirical articles were analyzed to determine technological and pedagogical trends in MAVL studies.

Findings - The analysis identified the most frequently used keywords, influential authors, and the most productive countries in MAVL research. Key areas of focus in L2 vocabulary learning and teaching included learners’ performance and perceptions, with gamification emerging as a predominant technological feature in recent empirical studies.

Significance - Although the findings are preliminary, they offer valuable insights for conducting future
research, emphasizing emerging trends and unexplored areas within MAVL.

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