Utilizing Anki to Enhance Vocabulary Acquisition among First-Year Students at a University in Hanoi - Mixed-Methods Study

Aug 29, 2026

Upload by Mali

Numerous studies examine digital flashcards in English learning; this research investigates students’ perceptions of Anki, a web-based flashcard program, and its influence on vocabulary acquisition. Using a mixed-method approach, 40 Vietnamese first-year learners from two intact classes participated. Pre- and post-tests, questionnaires, and interviews were used to compare Anki (experimental) with paper flashcards (control) during a three-week vocabulary-list study. Results show both methods improved vocabulary, while Anki group learning outperformed. Learners reported Anki as useful and enjoyable, though user-friendliness was not a significant advantage, and interviews supported perception-based insights.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Web-based learning tools and vocabulary acquisition

Spaced repetition and Anki’s role

Literature review

Vocabulary

Vocabulary learning

Utilizing Anki to Enhance Vocabulary Acquisition among First-Year Students at a University in Hanoi Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen 1*, Nguyen Minh Ngoc 1, Luong Hue Phuong 1 1 School of Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry, Vietnam *Corresponding author’s [email:](email: huyenntm_nn@haui.edu.vn)[ ](email: huyenntm_nn@haui.edu.vn)[huyenntm_nn@haui.edu.vn](email: huyenntm_nn@haui.edu.vn) * [https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0415-8102](https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0415-8102)[ ](https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0415-8102)[https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2574](https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2574) ®Copyright (c) 2025 Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen, Nguyen Minh Ngoc, Luong Hue Phuong Received: 28/04/2025 Revision: 30/06/2025 Accepted: 02/07/2025 Online: 17/07/2025 ABSTRACT | Keywords: influence, perceptions, vocabulary learning, Anki flashcards | Numerous studies have explored various aspects of integrating digital flashcards into English language teaching and learning. This study explores students' perceptions of Anki, a web-based flashcard program, and its influences on students’ vocabulary acquisition. Using a mixed-method approach, the research involves the participation of 40 freshmen from two intact classes at the elementary level. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests, questionnaires, and interviews, and subsequently analyzed. The participants were given a pre-test before embarking on a three-week period of learning the Vocabulary List presented in Reading Explorer 1, 3rd edition, which serves as their textbook. The control group (n = 20) used paper flashcards, while the experimental group (n = 20) employed Anki flashcards. A post-test was carried out to compare the effectiveness of the two vocabulary methods. Afterward, participants completed a survey, and a subset of six individuals were interviewed to gather insights into their perceptions of Anki. The study findings revealed that while traditional flashcards and Anki contributed to improved vocabulary acquisition, the group learning with Anki outperformed the control group. Additionally, learners found Anki tobe both useful and enjoyable, although user-friendliness was not considered a significant advantage based on their feedback. The findings are of great value in providing educators and students with a profound understanding of Anki's impact on facilitating learners'vocabulary learning. | | --- | --- | Introduction As technology continues to advance rapidly, web-based learning tools have become indispensable components of language learning and teaching, particularly in vocabulary acquisition. The development of digital flashcards is regarded as a significant contribution of technology to the acquisition of L2 vocabulary. Researchers widely agree that digital flashcards enhance learning by facilitating information retrieval and improving retention (McLean, Hogg,& Rush, 2013; Spiri, 2014) . Moreover, electronic flashcards often incorporate multimedia features, such as audio and animations, which enhance learner motivation and engagement (Allum, 2004) . Anki stands out among the various flashcard applications gaining prominence in L2 research, such as Quizlet and Memrise. This flashcard-based learning software employs spaced repetition to optimize vocabulary acquisition. Anki is used in this study because it addresses students'learning problems, such as ineffective memorization strategies and a lack of consistent review, by automatically scheduling review sessions at optimal intervals. This helps combat forgetting and reinforce long-term memory. Studies have highlighted Anki’s effectiveness in promoting vocabulary acquisition and improving the retention of learned information (Altiner, 2011; Zare & Barjasteh, 2017) . Its customizable and user-paced nature also supports individual learning preferences, making it a practical and effective tool for enhancing vocabulary retention. This study focuses on the use of Anki in the context of L2 vocabulary lear

FAQs

本研究的研究目的是什么？

研究旨在考察学生对Anki的看法，并分析Anki对词汇习得的影响效果。

研究如何组织并对照纸质闪卡与Anki闪卡？

参与者先完成前测，随后进行为期三周的词汇学习。对照组使用纸质闪卡，实验组使用Anki闪卡，并在学习后进行后测以比较两种方法的效果。

研究发现了哪些主要结果？

两种闪卡方式都能提升词汇习得，但使用Anki的小组表现优于对照组。此外，学习者认为Anki有用且有趣，而“易用性”并未被反馈视为显著优势。

Aug 29, 2026

Upload by Mali