Mobile technology as a dependable alternative to language labs and to improve listening skills

Abstract

There is an incessant gap between language acquisition and adoption of modern technologies, especially in semi-urban parts of economically growing countries in Asia. There is a need to establish infrastructure for Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), Information Communication Technology (ICT), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) to enrich English Language Teaching. Though these types of establishments instil confidence and fluency among English learners, investment in procurement, running costs towards maintenance and service cost deter institutions from establishing Language Labs and Language studios. The objective of this study was to establish Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in higher education institutions and enhance English fluency and accuracy with minimal operation and low maintenance cost. The study also methodologically shortlisted open-source mobile applications based on users' feedback on their user-friendliness, skill-levels, content, and options that promote Learners' Autonomy. A quantitative true-experimental study was conducted at the Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India, to develop the listening skills of (n=121) students of first-year Bachelor of Technology in a varied branch. The pre-test and post-test results revealed improvements in the experimental group. The findings would immensely help the underprivileged to serve ESL learners from any part of the globe who intend to enhance their proficiency in English.