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

10. Questions?