Exploring the Effectiveness of Mobile Technology in Language Learning Environment for Adult Learners

Exploring the Effectiveness of Mobile Technology in Language Learning Environment for Adult Learners

Sirui Wang, Ph.D. studentThe University of Southern MississippiJuly 23, 2012

Background Mobile Technology and language learning

Mobile assistant language learning (MALL) is benefited by mobile technologies, which is one of the mobile learning’s contributions to language education (Dias, 2002).

Mobile TechnologyMobile technologies are commonly used all around the world because of their portability, ubiquity, ease of accessibility (Keskin & Metcalf, 2011).

Background (continue…) Language learning and Contexto According to Verschueren (2005), “language

use is always situated against a complex background” (p.75).

o If appropriate language is inputted into a situation, language acquisition can occur (Krashen, 1985).

o Social world, mental world, & physical world (Verschueren, 2005, Understanding Pragmatics)

Purpose of Study provide a general picture of the importance

of context in language acquisition, examine and describe the effectiveness of

mobile technologies in contextualizing language learning environment, and

delve learners and teachers’ expectations of language learning in a well-situated language learning environment.

Overview of the theoretical foundation Situated Learning Theory

a theory that suggests learning is naturally tied to authentic activity, context, and culture (Brown, Collins, & Duguid, 1989)

considers learning as a "social process whereby knowledge is co-constructed, and …is situated in a specific context and embedded within a particular social and physical environment" (Lave & Wenger, 1991, p.41)

Research Questions Is there any effectiveness of mobile

devices for ESL students? Is there any effectiveness of mobile

devices for EFL students? Will learning environment and mobile

devices together have effects in students’ English performance?

Methodology Participant

Convenient sampling (ESL students vs. EFL students)

Between groups (mobile technology vs. non-mobile technology)

Instrument Two-way factorial ANOVA

− Learning environment (IV)− Learning devices (IV)− TOEFL score (DV)

Methodology (continue…) Procedure

Decide the population/sample Define the variables Decide the mobile device Conduct statistical analysis

Analysis (not yet)

Delimitations The size of the population The proper mobile device being the

platform The length for collecting adequate data The standard test scores

Questions?