EFL Tertiary Learners' Perceptions on Ease of Use of Portable Devices in English Mobile Learning at a University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

As the remarkable breakthrough of the age of revolution 4.0, mobile learning (M-learning) appears among the sharp development of modern technology. Their clever features have been discovered to have accompanied the exponential growth of mobile devices to enhance students' learning whenever and wherever. Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has so been considered to benefit individuals' English proficiency. Students' attitudes on utilizing mobile devices for learning while being connected to a wireless network need to be carried out, even though learning through mobile devices is expected to apply appropriately to teaching and learning. Through a survey of 207 university EFL students using a questionnaire with 13 English-Vietnamese statements within 20 minutes, this article aims to exhibit EFL learners' behaviors and acceptance of the use of mobile devices in English learning at a university in Vietnam. The survey ran within two weeks in the first semester of the 2019–2020 school year at a University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A quantitative approach was used to gather and analyze data from the questionnaire under SPSS version 20. Research findings demonstrated that learners' opinions regarding adopting portable technology in English learning are favorable. The learner supports this virtual learning thanks to mobile gadgets' smart functions offering convenient learning without demanding users' efforts to manipulate. Neither my current university firmly welcomes mobile learning applications to serve flexible education and training in the future.