Applications for Mobile Assited Language Learning: A current field research

Over the last few years, Mobile Learning (m-Learning) has increasingly attracted scholars’ attention. m-Learning is defined as the use of mobile devices in learning such as mobile phones, tablet pcs, pocket pcs and personal digital assistants (pdas). Several studies have pointed out that m-Learning is an interactive type of technology-based learning that can enhance students’ motivation. The emergence of new technological equipment and software has facilitated the creation and development of effective methods and materials for mobile assisted language learning (MALL) which is a specialization of mobile learning (m-Learning). This paper focuses on the use and effectiveness of MALL in second and foreign language (L2) education and on the potential of mobile devices as effective tools for delivering language learning materials to the students in terms of gained linguistic knowledge and skills. To this end, a field research was carried out on a sample of 20 applications for L2 learning, created for mobile devices, focusing on the most popular ones: smartphones and tablets. In particular, using the principles and standards proposed by the Common European Framework (CEFR), there was an effort on determining whether these applications contain languages activities in order to successfully support reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and language acquisition in general. Based on the findings further areas of research are suggested.