ABSTRACT
Vocabulary acquisition in Mandarin Chinese entails particular challenges for English native speakers due to the disconnect between spoken Chinese and written characters. This chapter discusses the effectiveness of the video platform Echo360 for vocabulary instruction in a blended introductory Chinese class taught with the flipped approach. Echo360 is an active learning platform featuring lecture capture, interactive activities and analytics of student engagement. This study takes a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to identify students’ perceptions of whether the use of Echo360’s features promotes effective learning of Mandarin vocabulary. Findings based on the statistical data, a digital survey and a follow-up individual interview indicate that students found the platform effective for teaching both vocabulary pronunciations and characters. Most significantly, students agreed that the lecture videos and activities produced by their own instructor were familiar, updated and individualized, which resulted in better learning outcomes.
