Young Language Learners’ Collaborative Learning and Social Interaction as a Motivational Aspect of the iPad

Abstract

Second language (L2) motivation is of great importance for young foreign language learners, as it can both attract their interest towards learning the target language and improve their L2 achievements. Supporting students’ need for relatedness (along with a need for competence and autonomy) is claimed to enhance behaviors that are self-motivated and self-determined. The purpose of this study is to explore the affordances of tablet technologies, such as Apple iPads, for satisfying young language learners’ need for relatedness, both in classroom collaborative learning and social interactions beyond the school settings. The key findings of this qualitative study suggest the iPad’s potentiality for promoting L2 motivation through exploiting its affordances to enhance collaborative learning and social development.