Mobile-assisted seamless Chinese vocabulary learning: learners’ perspectives on lexical variety, engagement, and challenges

This study introduces ‘seamless Chinese vocabulary learning’ (SCVL), a mobile-assisted initiative designed to bridge learners’ everyday experiences with formal language instruction. The SCVL framework integrates mobile technologies to foster vocabulary acquisition through artefact creation in a seamless learning environment. Employing a design-based research (DBR) methodology with mixed-methods design, 32 participants of varying proficiency levels took part in a 16-week intervention facilitated via the DingTalk platform. Quantitative analysis of 2,397 artefacts using the type–token ratio (TTR) indicated significant improvements in lexical variety across sentences, paragraphs, and essays across performance groups. Two-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests revealed significant main effects of time and group. A notable Group × Time interaction was observed for TTR Sentence and TTR Paragraph, but not for TTR Essay. These findings suggest that vocabulary development under SCVL is non-linear and shaped by learners’ proficiency levels. Qualitative data from interviews and learner feedback highlighted two major themes: (1) affective engagement, reflecting heightened motivation and emotional involvement, and (2) challenges, including technological barriers and frustration with peer review processes. Despite these difficulties, students reported that SCVL was both engaging and effective in enhancing their vocabulary learning. This study contributes to seamless learning research by addressing limitations in earlier work that often overlooked learners’ perspectives and the obstacles they encounter. Pedagogically, the findings highlight the potential of the ‘sentence–paragraph–essay’ artefact creation process to guide language instructors in developing more effective, sustainable strategies for vocabulary instruction.