A comparative evaluation of podcasting-based and mobile-based material distribution systems in foreign language teaching

Abstract

This paper examines two independent multimedia distribution systems in terms of user's impression and the download time on the basis of the two experiments which were carried out in English teaching settings in Japan. The two are the podcasting system and the mobile-based system. The results of the two studies indicated that the students feel that mobiles are more friendly and easy to operate. Although it takes them longer time to download digital materials from the server, they do not feel so much frustrated or irritated for being delayed to a certain degree. These implications imply the future possibility for blended-instruction model of foreign language teaching in Japan. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.