Seamless Experience of Learning across Contexts for Chinese Vocabulary Learning: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This paper delineates a pilot study on a seamless language learning design that emphasises on the seamless Chinese vocabulary learning experiences across a multitude of contexts of “at home, on campus, in the classroom, at apartment and other places”.  A systematic seamless learning approach was introduced. In addition, DingTalk, a technology-enhanced learning platform in tandem with social media was adopted to enhance respondents’ Chinese vocabulary learning. Eight international students of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) participated in this study for eight weeks, where they were permitted to utilise their mobile devices to capture vivid images and create artifacts on DingTalk, the social media platform, in conjunction with conducting a series of peer-to-peer discussions regarding the artifacts. Through the findings of the post-study reflections, interviews, and the data obtained from students upon the conclusion of the study, an overall positive influence on the student's ability to diligently leverage their spectrum of vocabulary in a multitude of contexts was evident. Furthermore, the notion of seamless language learning design has empowered students to inculcate the habit of autonomous learning and translate in-class language learning to practical real-life scenarios through their seamless learning experience across various contexts, which strongly correlates with their educational competence both in and out of the classroom.