skip to main content

ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL) TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS AND USE OF MOBILE DEVICES AND APPLICATIONS

Vol.5, Issue 2, 2019, pp.190-202 Full text

Crossmark logo

DOI https://doi.org/10.33919/esnbu.19.2.1
Web of Science: 000512305100003

Author:
Elias Bensalem https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6018-0897

Affiliation:
Northern Border University, Saudi Arabia 03j9tzj20

Abstract
This paper reports on a study of how a group of tertiary level EFL teachers perceived and used mobile devices in their teaching and personal learning. One hundred and fifty teachers (66 female, 84 male) from public universities in Saudi Arabia completed an online questionnaire. Results showed that the majority of participants used mobile devices and applications in their teaching and learning. Survey data showed that the vast majority of teachers had positively perceived and frequently used mobile technologies in their teaching and personal learning. In addition, there was a correlation between teachers' use of mobile technologies in their teaching and their use in learning. There was also a correlation between how teachers perceived the value of mobile technologies in learning, and how they use them in their teaching.

Keywords: EFL, mobile devices, Web 2.0 applications, technology integration

Article history:
Submitted: 15 October 2019;
Reviewed: 6 November 2019;
Revised: 29 November 2019;
Accepted: 7 December 2019;
Published: 30 December 2019

Citation (APA):
Bensalem, E. (2019). English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Teachers' Perceptions and Use of Mobile Devices and Applications. English Studies at NBU, 5(2), 190-202. https://doi.org/10.33919/esnbu.19.2.1

Copyright © 2019 Elias Bensalem

This open access article is published and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. If you want to use the work commercially, you must first get the authors' permission.

Open Data
Badge earned for open practices
Data for this study are available under a CC-BY 4.0 license at figshare.com https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11473509 in .xls format (also in the References) and at MendeleyData https://doi.org/10.17632/4xsm7j96c5.1 in SPSS .sav format.

Funding:
The author wishes to acknowledge the approval and the support of this research study by the grant number 7735-EAR-2018-3-9-F from the Deanship of Scientific Research at Northern Border University, Arar, K.S.A

References
Andujar, A. (2016). Benefits of mobile instant messaging to develop ESL writing. System, 62, 63-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2016.07.004

Balanskat, A., Blamire, R., & Kefala, S. (2006). A review of studies of ICT impact on schools in Europe: European Schoolnet.

Basal, A., Yilmaz, S., Tanriverdi, A., & Sari, L. (2016). Effectiveness of mobile applications in vocabulary teaching. Contemporary Educational Technology, 7(1), 47-59. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/6162

Becta (2004). A review of the research literature on barriers to the uptake of ICT by teachers. Becta.

Bensalem, E. 2018. The Impact of WhatsApp on EFL Students' Vocabulary Learning. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), 9(1), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol9no1.2

Bensalem, E. (2019). Mobile devices and apps_raw data for NBU.xls (v1). ['Dataset'] figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11473509.v1

Chen, C. M., & Chung, C. J. (2008). Personalized mobile English vocabulary learning system based on item response theory and learning memory cycle. Computers & Education, 51(2), 624-645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2007.06.011

Chen, C. M., & Hsu, S. H. (2008). Personalized intelligent m-learning system for supporting effective English learning. Educational Technology & Society, 11(3), 153-180.

Dahlstrom, E., Walker, J. D., & Dziuban, C. (2014). ECAR study of undergraduate students and information technology. ECAR.

Dias, L., & Victor, A. (2017). Teaching and Learning with Mobile Devices in the 21st Century Digital World: Benefits and Challenges. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(5), 340-345. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejms.v5i1.p339-344

Ducate, L., & Lomicka, L. (2009). Podcasting: an effective tool for honing language students' pronunciation? Language Learning & Technology, 13, 66-86.

Fageeh, A. (2013). Effects of MALL applications on vocabulary acquisition and motivation. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), 4(4), 420-447.

Garofalakis, J.D., Lagiou, A.V. & Plessas, A.P. (2013). Use of web 2.0 tools for teaching physics in secondary education. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 3(1), 6-9. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIET.2013.V3.224

Han, T., & Keskin, F. (2016). Using a mobile application (WhatsApp) to reduce EFL speaking anxiety. GIST Education and Learning Research Journal, 12, 29-50. https://doi.org/10.26817/16925777.243

Huang, C., & P. Sun. (2010). Using mobile technologies to support mobile multimedia English listening exercises in daily life. In The International Conference on Computer and Network Technologies in Education (CNTE 2010).

Lai, K. W., Khaddage, F., & Knezek, G. (2013). Blending student technology experiences in formal and informal learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29, 414-425. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12030

Lai, K.-W., & Smith, L. (2018). Socio-demographic factors relating to perception and use of mobile technologies in tertiary teaching: Socio-demographic factors and mobile technologies. British Journal of Educational Technology, 49, 492-504. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12544

Lowther, D. L., & Ross, S. M. (2000). Teacher Technology Questionnaire (TTQ). Memphis, TN: Center for Research in Educational Policy, The University of Memphis.

Lu, M. (2008). Effectiveness of vocabulary learning via mobile phone. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 24(6), 515-525. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2008.00289.x

Morris, N. P., Lambe, J., Ciccone, J., & Swinnerton, B. (2016). Mobile technology: students perceived benefits of apps for learning neuroanatomy. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 32(5), 430-442. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12144

Newhouse, C. P., Williams, P. J., & Pearson, J. (2006). Supporting mobile education for pre-service teachers. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 22, 289-311. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.1288

Plana, M. G.-C., Gimeno, A., & Appel, C. (2013). Improving learners' reading skills through instant short messages: A sample study using WhatsApp. Paper presented at the Global perspectives on Computer-Assisted Language Learning, Glasgow.

Rakes, G. C., Fields, V. S., & Cox, K. E. (2006). The influence of teachers' technology use on instructional practices. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(1), 411-426. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2006.10782467

Sanchez, R. A., Cortijo, V., & Javed, U. (2014). Students' perceptions of Facebook for academic purposes. Computers & Education, 70, 138-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2013.08.012

Schroeder, J., & Greenbowe, T. (2009). The chemistry of Facebook: Using social networking to create an online community for the organic chemistry laboratory. Journal of Online Education, 5, article 3.

Schuller C., Winters, N. & West, M. (2013). The future of mobile learning - Implications for policy makers and planners. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000219637

Shih, R.C. (2011). Can web 2.0 technology assist college students in learning English writing? Integrating Facebook and peer assessment with blended learning. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 27(5), 829-845. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.934

Shraim, K., & Crompton, H. (2015). Perceptions of using smart mobile devices in higher education teaching: A case study from Palestine. Contemporary Educational Technology, 6, 301-318. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/6156

Stockwell, G. (2010). Using mobile phones for vocabulary activities: Examining the effect of the platform. Language Learning & Technology, 14(2), 95-110. http://llt.msu.edu/vol14num2/stockwell.pdf

Thornton, P., & Houser, C. (2001). Learning on the Move: Vocabulary Study via Email and Mobile Phone SMS. In C. Montgomerie & J. Viteli (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, 2001, (pp. 1896-1897). AACE.

Vurdien, R. (2013). Enhancing writing skills through blogging in an advanced English as a Foreign Language class in Spain. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 26(2), 126-143. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2011.639784

Zou, B., Xiang, C.H., & Jeaco, S. (2012). An Investigation of the Use of Wikis in English Language Learning. Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, 35(1), 99-116. https://doi.org/10.1515/cjal-2012-0008

Review

1. Reviewer's name: Undisclosed
Review Content: Undisclosed
Review Verified on Publons:

2. Reviewer's name: Undisclosed
Review Content: Undisclosed
Review Verified on Publons

Handling Editor: Stan Bogdanov
Verified Editor Record on Publons: https://publons.com/p/27731897


Article Metrics