T-MALL-Integrated Model of Engagement for Student-Driven Learning

Abstract

Communications in the foreign language classroom are entangled in both the learners' cultural values and the target language's and hindered by the lack of naturalistic practice outside of the classroom (Crawford-Lange & Lange, 1987). This research is a qualitative action research which is situated within a longitudinal perspective with the aim of understanding the factors arising from the learning environment contributing to increase active engagement in the classroom. Malaysian undergraduates majoring in French as a foreign language are the sample to conduct this research as they faced motivational issues due to linguistic and cultural gap between their target and native languages. The t-MALL environment stimulated and sustained the students' engagement and the analysis of video recordings revealed marked improvements in spontaneous participations. The encouraging results in terms of students' engagement, coping strategies and proficiency achievements validated the fitness of t-MALL in enhancing the learning environment within the research context.