Impacts of Short-Form Videos on Vietnamese High School Students’ Motivation in Learning English Vocabulary

Abstract

Short-form video platforms have become a popular form of online interaction among young adult learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Videos with built-in multi-modality make them effective tools in EFL learning. However, empirical studies of incorporation of these videos in the Vietnamese EFL setting remain limited. This study aims to investigate the impact of short-form videos on motivation of Vietnamese 10th grade students in learning English vocabulary. The research utilized a mixed-methods approach, involving pre-and post-4-week intervention with 120 students of the HUIT Center of High School Education in Ho Chi Minh City, and semi-structured interviews with 8 students. Results revealed a statistically higher student motivation after the intervention with selected English vocabulary videos of 20 to 60 seconds. Thematic analysis indicated that the videos positively influenced student engagement, interest, and confidence. These findings suggest that integrating short-form videos into EFL teaching enhance student engagement, and discuss implications for teachers to employ short-form videos in EFL contexts.