Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) As a Foreign Language Aid: A Literature Review

Abstract

In recent years, mobile language learning, which can also be defined as mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), is commonly used in a wide range all over the world. MALL is utilized in language learning to foster new possibilities in providing more useful and attractive learning activities. Thus, the current study aimed to identify the effectiveness of MALL as a tool for language learning by examining 10 Ph.D. dissertations (5 from Turkey, 5 from several counties) and 10 journal articles published in different Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) journals between 2013 and 2019. The review was conducted to identify the research domains such as scope, research questions, methodologies, common emergent features and overall implications of those studies. The results showed that while Ph.D. dissertations from Turkey mostly focused on vocabulary learning through several MALL applications, Ph.D. dissertations from other countries had diverse research domains. Further, the article studies vary in terms of scopes, methodologies and contexts, providing insights for context-dependent practices such as restricted settings. Those studies also revealed the pros and cons and suggested employing MALL applications appropriately in facilitating language learning.