Foreign Language Instruction Probe
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Reframing Vocabulary Learning in Rural EFL Education: Memrise-Assisted Project-Based Learning and Student Engagement in Indonesia

Rahmayani Kadir (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
La Sunra (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Andi Asrifan (Universitas Negeri Makassar)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 May 2026

Abstract

This study examined the application of Memrise-assisted Project-Based Learning to enhance vocabulary proficiency and student engagement in a rural Indonesian EFL classroom. The study examined the impact of a gamified mobile-assisted learning platform on students' vocabulary acquisition, classroom engagement, and collaborative learning during project-based instructional activities. The study utilized a Classroom Action Research design with a mixed-methods approach, involving 24 tenth-grade students at a rural secondary school in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data were gathered via vocabulary pre-tests and post-tests, classroom observations, reflective journals, interviews, and documentation. Quantitative data were analyzed using mean score analysis and paired-sample t-tests, supplemented by qualitative thematic interpretation. The results indicated a significant enhancement in students' vocabulary performance across the research cycles, with average scores rising from 53.4 in the initial phase to 69.8 in Cycle I and 83.1 in Cycle II. Student involvement, teamwork, confidence, and the use of contextual vocabulary significantly improved following instructional modifications. The findings indicate that integrating gamified mobile-assisted vocabulary learning with Project-Based Learning can convert vocabulary instruction from a memorization-focused approach to a more significant, interactive, and contextually relevant learning experience, especially in under-resourced rural EFL settings.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

flip

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

It welcomes a wide range of topics in the area of Foreign Language Teaching particularly in English as Foreign Language (EFL) context, ranging from issues in Second Language Acquisition, Language Teaching Skills (listening-speaking-reading-writing), Grammar (traditional and functional), Language ...