Civil Aviation Students’ Perspectives on Online Interactive Activities versus Textbooks in Vocabulary Learning

This study, part of a larger research investigation, explored Turkish aviation students’ perspectives on using online interactive vocabulary activities with games versus traditional textbook exercises for learning English terminology. Solely focusing on the qualitative phase of a mixed methods study, this study analyzed interviews and focus groups to gain deeper insights into students’ experiences and preferences. Findings revealed the experimental group perceived significantly greater improvements in listening, writing, and vocabulary skills through the online interactive activities which allowed contextualized practice. However, challenges included insufficient prior language preparation and difficult assessments. Overall, online interactive vocabulary games enhanced motivation, retention, and achievement compared to textbook exercises, though recommendations included supplementing with face-to-face instruction, diverse materials, and preparatory training. Student perspectives highlighted interactive, experiential methods as most effective for mastering the specialized vocabulary crucial for aviation communication and safety.