Attitudes held by teachers when using mobile devices as language aids

Abstract

The aim of the study is to establish and understand the attitudes teachers hold when using mobile devices as language aids. Data was collected using a mixed method approach. Both quantitative and qualitative questionnaires were disseminated using ‘closed/private’ Facebook groups related to Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to focus the survey on participants that had experience in this field. Approximately 267 participants completed the quantitative questionnaire, whilst only eight participants completed the qualitative questionnaire. The results from the quantitative questionnaire demonstrate that participants acknowledge Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) devices to be beneficial. However, according to the qualitative results, even though participants recognise the potential MALL devices can provide, most participants did not use MALL devices within their classroom. Reasons for this, according to the qualitative data, are due to the teachers’ lack of digital literacy and competency, as well as the potential difficulty of managing classroom disruptions and behaviour when using MALL devices.