The Effect of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Learning-Language Lab vs. Mobile-Assisted Learning

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid advancement of information technology has had a great impact on our daily life and changed the world in which we operate; in particular, mobile devices have become more portable and powerful than ever. As a result, mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) and ubiquitous learning have been widely adopted in a variety of studies. However, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of teaching English for specific purposes (ESP), i.e., the Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) for college students in a language laboratory and through the mobile LINE app. A total of 72 college students were randomly assigned to two groups, a language lab group and a mobile learning group, for 10 weeks of instruction. The findings revealed that the students in the mobile learning group had significantly positive attitudes toward the teaching method and learning content and high user satisfaction. In addition, the learning performance of the students in the mobile learning group was better than that in the language lab group.