Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL)

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL)  is a field that is quickly growing,  and to this end, a large amount of research has been published over the past two decades, that highlights the diverse ways in which mobile devices can be implemented in the teaching and learning environment. Furthermore, research,  for the most part, shed a very positive light on the potential of the role that mobile devices may play.

Moreover,  as an essential area of consideration for any new technology implementation in language learning is the user’s readiness to employ it effectively. In other words, teachers before planning to incorporate any technology into their curriculum there is a need for technological pedagogical content knowledge.  Thus, based on the literature from MALL, CALL, and ML,  it is essential to take into consideration ten general principles, as an initial basis for developing and implementing mobile language learning.

Hence, taking into account ten principles (Stockwell and Hubbard, 2013) for developing and implementing mobile language learning, the following MALL activity was designed for  EFL/ESL students (from beginners to advanced,  the choice of the level depends on the chosen topic).

 Activity plan: the activity is designed to practice students' speaking skills. The focus of the following activity is on fluency. Namely, students can make a note of their 'favourite mistakes’ try not to make the same mistakes after receiving pair feedback.

·         Required technologies: mobile phone or computer/laptop (Principle 5: learners are given the      option of using either their mobile phones or computers)

·         First of all, ensure that students know how to use their mobiles/laptops to do a  recording to complete the activity. If they do not know, explain to them how to do it and only after that start the activity (as suggested in principle 9; explain rather than rely on learners' knowledge, Principle 1: the activity is designed to be carried out on a small screen with minimal input needed, which is thought to be appropriate for mobile phones

·         Then,  a learner  makes a voice/video recording of a speaking task (3 minutes) done in class to share with his/her pair for feedback (principle 7: the activity is designed to be completed in short times, Principle 6: using mobile phones for short learning activities is not too large a jump from their normal practice).

·         After listening to pair feedback, the re-recording of the task is carried out and is shared with the teacher for assessment.

·         Teacher posts his/her comments on shared online space.