Exploring the Effectiveness of Mobile Technology in Language Learning Environment for Adult Learners
1. Exploring the
Effectiveness of Mobile
Technology in Language
Learning Environment for
Adult Learners
Sirui Wang, Ph.D. student
The University of Southern Mississippi
July 23, 2012
2. 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 Technology
Mobile technologies are commonly used all around
the world because of their portability, ubiquity, ease
of accessibility (Keskin & Metcalf, 2011).
3. Background (continue…)
Language learning and Context
o 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)
4. 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.
5. 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)
6. 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?
7. 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)
8. Methodology (continue…)
Procedure
Decide the population/sample
Define the variables
Decide the mobile device
Conduct statistical analysis
Analysis (not yet)
9. Delimitations
The size of the population
The proper mobile device being the
platform
The length for collecting adequate data
The standard test scores