Exploring Smartphone Applications for Effective Mobile-Assisted Language Learning

The widespread use of smartphones has brought numerous mobile applications to L2 learners, but discussion about its effectiveness has not been settled yet within the field. This study attempts to broaden this discussion by reporting the findings of an in-depth review of 87 ESL mobile apps. Two research questions are addressed to explore this issue: 1) What are the common and distinctive features of smartphone applications? 2) What are the strengths and weaknesses in utilizing present smartphone applications for effective mobile-assisted language learning (MALL)? This study first suggests evaluation criteria designed for mobile-based ESL software. Next, overall features and functions of the selected applications are analyzed in the three categories: ‘content and design’, ‘L2 approaches’ and ‘technology’. The details of the findings are sorted and explained by target language skills. Finally, this study concludes that the ESL apps seem effective in that they provide a personal and learner-centered learning opportunity with ubiquitously accessible and flexible practices. However, they need to be improved by realizing mobility as a more situated, field-dependent, and collaborative form of learning. The effective design and use of ESL mobile applications should continue to be studied in order to suggest the right direction to effective MALL.

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