Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education
At present, hardly any younger person can imagine life without mobile technologies. They use them on a daily basis, including in language learning. Such learning supported with mobile devices is called mobile learning, which seems beneficial especially thanks to the unique features of mobile applica...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/9/3/179 |
| _version_ | 1818035030356656128 |
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| author | Jaroslav Kacetl Blanka Klímová |
| author_facet | Jaroslav Kacetl Blanka Klímová |
| author_sort | Jaroslav Kacetl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | At present, hardly any younger person can imagine life without mobile technologies. They use them on a daily basis, including in language learning. Such learning supported with mobile devices is called mobile learning, which seems beneficial especially thanks to the unique features of mobile applications (e.g., interactivity, ubiquity, and portability) and teachers’ encouragement and feedback. The purpose of this review study is to explore original, peer-reviewed English studies from 2015 to April 2019 and to determine whether mobile applications used in the learning of English as a foreign language are beneficial and/or effective. The methods are based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in two acknowledged databases: Web of Science and Scopus. Altogether, 16 original journal studies on the research topic were detected. The results reveal that mobile learning is becoming a salient feature of education as it is a great opportunity for foreign language learning. Its key benefits are as follows: the enhancement of the learner’s cognitive capacity, the learner’s motivation to study in both formal and informal settings, the learner’s autonomy and confidence, as well as the promotion of personalized learning, helping low-achieving students to reach their study goals. Although mobile learning seems to be effective overall, it is desirable to design, plan and implement it with caution, according to students’ needs, and to deliver multiple language skills in authentic learning environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:48:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42046f17422a45e89594f05c301b1aaf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:48:34Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-42046f17422a45e89594f05c301b1aaf2022-12-22T01:58:36ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022019-07-019317910.3390/educsci9030179educsci9030179Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language EducationJaroslav Kacetl0Blanka Klímová1Department of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Králové, Rokitanského 62, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech RepublicDepartment of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Králové, Rokitanského 62, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech RepublicAt present, hardly any younger person can imagine life without mobile technologies. They use them on a daily basis, including in language learning. Such learning supported with mobile devices is called mobile learning, which seems beneficial especially thanks to the unique features of mobile applications (e.g., interactivity, ubiquity, and portability) and teachers’ encouragement and feedback. The purpose of this review study is to explore original, peer-reviewed English studies from 2015 to April 2019 and to determine whether mobile applications used in the learning of English as a foreign language are beneficial and/or effective. The methods are based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in two acknowledged databases: Web of Science and Scopus. Altogether, 16 original journal studies on the research topic were detected. The results reveal that mobile learning is becoming a salient feature of education as it is a great opportunity for foreign language learning. Its key benefits are as follows: the enhancement of the learner’s cognitive capacity, the learner’s motivation to study in both formal and informal settings, the learner’s autonomy and confidence, as well as the promotion of personalized learning, helping low-achieving students to reach their study goals. Although mobile learning seems to be effective overall, it is desirable to design, plan and implement it with caution, according to students’ needs, and to deliver multiple language skills in authentic learning environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/9/3/179mobile appsmobile learningEnglish learningusebenefits |
| spellingShingle | Jaroslav Kacetl Blanka Klímová Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education Education Sciences mobile apps mobile learning English learning use benefits |
| title | Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education |
| title_full | Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education |
| title_fullStr | Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education |
| title_short | Use of Smartphone Applications in English Language Learning—A Challenge for Foreign Language Education |
| title_sort | use of smartphone applications in english language learning a challenge for foreign language education |
| topic | mobile apps mobile learning English learning use benefits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/9/3/179 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jaroslavkacetl useofsmartphoneapplicationsinenglishlanguagelearningachallengeforforeignlanguageeducation AT blankaklimova useofsmartphoneapplicationsinenglishlanguagelearningachallengeforforeignlanguageeducation |