WordUp

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WordUp, a vocabulary learning mobile application, was developed and managed initially by Geeks Ltd.It teachs English vocabulary through contexts such as excerpts of movies, songs, and news programme..This application starts by asking the learners about their age, approximate language proficiency level, and preferred accent. The main features include a personalized learning plan [Word Knowledge Map],a vocabulary size assessment test, spaced repetition review method [1] and work ranks

Word Ranks

It is important to emphasise the fact that WordUp app has ranked all the words in the English language in order of how useful they are by using Computer-Assisted Corpus Analysis. Therefore, every user makes the most of their learning time because they focus on what matters the most.

The words are categorised into 25 groups of 1,000 words, ranked from the first most useful and frequently used thousand words to the 25th thousand one. Nation (1997) says that word lists "provides a rational basis for making sure that learners get the best return for their vocabulary learning effort"

Word Knowledge Map

WordUp first detects knowledge gaps and then creates a personalized learning plan that focuses on one word at a time, always ensuring that the most useful word is being learned first. Once the map of their knowledge gaps is created [known as Knowledge Map], the users will start to fill the gaps. They begin to follow a plan while learning new words and phrases. WordUp also saves a copy of users' progress data to the cloud. This is done every 2-3 minutes while using the app.

Teaching Approach

A common approach in vocabulary apps is using spaced repetition review mehod to reinforce memorization. That method is also employed by WordUp.

Dictionary Definitions

When the learners start learning a word, a dictionary entry containing the word’s definition, pronunciation, part of speech, first language (L1) equivalence, and some examples appear.

Translations (bilingual dictionary)

WordUp supports a wide range of languages as the students’ L1; thus, learners with lower levels of language proficiency can benefit from the equivalences of the vocabulary in their L1, if needed.

Contextual examples

This mobile application analyses millions of movies, TV shows, songs, stories, newspaper articles, famous people's quotes and similar captivating material in order to bring the most helpful, exciting and enjoyable examples for each word to its users.

Memorization/Review Approach

WordUp uses spaced repetition to make sure users remember words in the long-term.

When a user learns a new word, the next day the app will check if the user remembers it. If not, the user sees the explanation, examples or translation in order to practice again. The users can also practice pronounciation (it is possible to choose between British and American English). This repeats until one day the user says “I remember”. Then it comes back in 3 days. If the user still remembers the word or phrase, it comes up in 7 days, then a month, then 3 months, and finally after a year.

Freemium Licensing

Although users can access many options freely, WordUp has some in-app purchase options that give students access to even more. There are two types of accounts which can be purchased, namely “essential” and “pro.” (now has changed to three membership models: Dove, Swan and Eagle membership)

List of Awards

• Best Innovation 2019(best business awards)
• Education App of the year 2019(UK app awards)
• App of the Year 2019/2020(Northern Dev-awards)
• UK Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award 2020 (UK IT industry awards)
• Best Education & Reference App 2020(the Stevie Awards)
• Innovation in English Language Teaching 2020 (ELTons awards)
• Best Digital Innovation 2020(British Council)
• EdTech of the Year (British Data Awards 2022)

Founders

WordUp was founded by Paymon Khamooshi and Somayeh Aghnia. As immigrants and non-native English speakers themselves who have experienced difficulties while learning new words, they've decided to create a vocabulary learning application.(source)

Criticism

WordUp has received criticism in scholarly articles. Besides mentioning the many advantages it offers to the users, the authors also tried to name the drawbacks too: the inconveniences of the bilingual dictionary, the problems related to contextual examples, and the lack of activities and exercises for enhancing users’ productive knowledge are among the main drawbacks that this article mentions.

About the bilingual dictionary, they say that is not level-appropriate for learners with different levels of language proficiency; Also there’s only one L1 equivalence for words with more than one part of speech or for polysemous words and finally, the application offers no translation for idioms.

The article mentions the problem related to contextual examples: It says that as WordUp uses search engines and artificial intelligence technologies to find examples for words, some quotations are incomplete dependent clauses which makes them incomprehensible for users. Excerpts containing the to-be-learned word also might include vocabularies that are unlikely to exist in the learners’ lexical knowledge.

Another drawback that is mentioned in this article is that WordUp does not provide learners with activities in which the learners can use the words and make sentences or do tasks using the words.

For the last criticism, the authors state that for using this application, one must already know the English grammar and essential vocabulary. It is unsuitable, therefore, for beginners and those below  A1 (CEFR) level. Based on the results of the analysis of experimental data, it is mentioned that using WordUp can enhance the reading comprehension skills of students because the app became an interactive way of learning vocabulary through interactive activities that the app offers. Another article has focused on the effectiveness of WordUp application on students' writing skills. In this study, a quasi-experimental method was applied with two groups (pretest & posttest). Based on the results of analyzing the data, this article states that using WordUp can have a positive effect on students' writing skills and also on the pronunciation of words.

References

This article "WordUp" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:WordUp. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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