Designing a Mobile Application for Autonomous Learning of English

Despite its prominent role, university students encounter problems in progressing themselves in learning English. The situation gets worse when the allocated time of learning English in the classroom is not adequate. Several solutions can be proposed including the use of appropriate teaching and learning strategies as well as the implementation of autonomous learning. This study was aimed at developing a mobile phone application for autonomous learning of English. This study employed design and development research method, which was a product and tool research. Respondents were 166 students of State Polytechnic of Malang. Research methods used included questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. Findings in the preliminary study showed that respondents needed additional time to learn English while mobile phones and computers were believed to be the most effective media. Findings from the field test revealed that the developed English mobile learning was considered interesting, motivating and useful to improve English.