The Impact of Reading Webtoon on Vocabulary Acquisition Among English Learners

This study investigated the impact of reading webtoons on vocabulary acquisition among EFL learners at UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, data were collected from 60 English Department students (batch 2022) through a questionnaire combining 15 Likert-scale items and 3 open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that students perceived webtoons as beneficial for vocabulary acquisition, with all post-reading items scoring above 3.0 on a 4-point scale. The highest mean was for using new words in context (M = 3.32), followed by understanding new words (M = 3.30) and illustrations helping comprehension (M = 3.28). The Spearman correlation showed a weak to moderate positive relationship between reading frequency and vocabulary improvement (ρ = 0.328, p = 0.010). Qualitative findings supported these results, with students reporting natural and enjoyable learning experiences (73.3%) and visual elements facilitating understanding (51.7%). Students identified slice-of-life and romance as the most helpful genres (63.3%), while also reporting challenges such as slang and informal expressions (56.7%), distraction by the story (23.3%), and translation issues (15.0%). These findings show webtoons can serve as an effective supplementary tool for vocabulary learning, though their effectiveness depends on genre selection and reading strategies.