MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES AS A TOOL IN EFL TEACHING

Abstract

Even the groundswell of interest in mobile applications has not so far contributed to their integration into educational programs as an EFL learning tool. The purpose of the present review is to identify the current state and prospects for the use of mobile technologies in EFL teaching. The methodological basis of this research is a theoretical analysis of the literature data on the research topic. The evaluation of contemporary empirical studies conducted in Australia, China, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, Taiwan and other countries, has led to a conclusion that the implementation of mobile technology in EFL teaching gives predominantly positive results due to several merits of mobile devices relative to standard pedagogical tools. It was however underlined that researchers have yet to learn how to conduct methodologically sound, statistically relevant studies that would cover aspects of learning activities beyond the use of mobile technology. The authors conclude that when studying applications, researchers should not try to find a mobile application that can teach students everything they need, but should study the ways in which individual applications help to master a foreign language.