Mobile-Assisted Language Learning

These days it seems mobile phones are used everywhere by everyone; maybe more than any other technological device. This prompts us educators to find ways to take advantage of mobiles and use them in language learning.

Very often instructors ask the students to turn off their phones before the class starts not to get distracted by them. Surely, this is still necessary, but there are certain ways to use mobiles for educational purposes. I discovered a number of educational reasons for using them in the language classroom.

Thus, students can use the notes feature to collect everyday language and send their notes to the teacher. This helps to break the boundary between class time and daily activities. Students can use the camera feature to take pictures of text. Through the voice recorder, learners can record conversations outside the classroom. Another useful technique is to use the text messaging feature to reinforce vocabulary learning. This function can also encourage learners to improve their writing skills. They can start with shorter texts and then expand them into essays. The challenge for educators is to encourage that type of writing from which students can learn the language.

I found the technique of tandem learning rather encouraging for interaction. This is when two students learn each other’s native language by exchanging text messages. Mobiles can also be used for microblogging on Twitter and social networking. Through this device a lot of listening and reading materials can be distributed.

Despite certain problems connected with mobiles, such as lack of access, noise and disruption in class, cost, increased teacher workload, mobile-assisted language learning can serve as one supplementary means to boost motivation and enhance language learning process.