Speaker
ABSTRACT
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in society. We are living in an era where the human-machine relationship has taken on this new form. The communication and connectivity options of smartphones have made them necessary items in our daily lives and communities. This fact may be especially evident to those practitioners who work in Japanese university settings.
While some institutions, contexts and teachers have decided to ban smartphone use in the classroom, is it possible that this goes against the tide of student-centered teaching and learning, allowing the classroom to possibly become an artificial environment, separate from the real world?
Although it is recognized that smartphone use in the classroom could present distractions, there is also potential for it to enhance language learning through convenience, entertainment, and increased motivation.
This presentation will highlight studies demonstrating how the use of MALL may expand learner autonomy and self-directed learning (e.g., Jeong, 2022; Godwin-Jones, 2017; Leis, Tohei & Cooke, 2015). Also, some examples of applications and functions used on smartphones will be provided that could be integrated into language learning curriculums (Hacker’s TOEIC, Google Test, Course LMS, Facebook). Both the challenges and opportunities they may provide to learners and instructors alike will be discussed.
KEYWORDS
MALL
Learner Autonomy
Self-Directed Learning
| TITLE | Incorporating MALL: Possibilities for Japanese University Practitioners |
|---|---|
| RELEVANT SIG | Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) |
| FORMAT | Practice-oriented Oral Face-to-face presentation (25 minutes, including Q&A) |
