Application of Wordclouds as Visual Learning Tools in Language Education

Wordclouds, also known as tag clouds, are visual representations of textual data where a set of words extracted from a text are depicted in different fonts and sizes due to their frequency or importance. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of using Wordclouds for foreign language vocabulary instruction and to improve students learning outcomes by using Wordclouds in educational settings. To investigate advantages and disadvantages of these visual tools, based on some inclusion-exclusion criteria and quality evaluation, a number of related articles were selected and content-analyzed. Furthermore, a semi-structured interview about the same issue was designed and administered among TEFL students at Bu-Ali Sina University. The participants were selected because they had experience with these visual tools. The most important finding is that, while Wordclouds have some benefits, such as student engagement and visualization, they also have some limitations, such as oversimplification and subjectivity. Although Wordclouds show potential advantages as visual aids in education, their effective use demands thorough consideration of both their advantages and disadvantages. Teachers should use them wisely alongside other methods to enhance learning and overcome limitations. Future studies should create guidelines for using Wordclouds effectively in education.