IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature
Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026): IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Lite

Grade VIII Junior-Secondary Learners’ Views of Duolingo for English Vocabulary Learning: A Case Study at a Bogor Private Junior High School

Nabilah Najah Kaniah (Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang, Jawa Barat)
Iwan Ridwan (Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang, Jawa Barat)
Dedeh Kartini (Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang, Jawa Barat)



Article Info

Publish Date
11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Three themes emerged from a qualitative single-case study of Grade VIII students at a private junior high school in Bogor, Indonesia: gamified micro-goals sustained short, low-anxiety practice; immediate, multimodal feedback (checks, audio, tiles, spaced recycling) supported noticing, pronunciation, and retention; and autonomy and everyday fit were valued, yet transfer to extended speaking/writing was limited without teacher-led bridging tasks. To contextualize these results, Self-Determination Theory and Mobile-Assisted Language Learning framed the inquiry. A syllabus-aligned vocabulary screening informed the purposive selection of six learners spanning low/medium/high readiness. Each focal learner completed one supervised Duolingo session, observed with a structured checklist, then participated in a semi-structured interview; data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings suggest that out-of-class app exposure is most beneficial when coupled with brief, in-class production activities and criteria-based feedback to move learners from recognition to controlled use of target lexis. The study is limited by its single-class scope and one-session design; future research should examine multi-week classroom integration and task-based measures of productive skills.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ideas

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

IDEAS Journal is published twice a year in the months of June and December (P-ISSN 2338-4778 and E-ISSN 2548-4192); it presents articles on English language teaching and learning, linguistics, and literature. The contents include analyses, studies and application of theories, research report, ...