Use of Mobile Applications for Foreign Language Learning Among University Students: Needs and Functions

Abstract

Currently, mobile learning is an inseparable part of education since students use their mobile devices ubiquitously daily. This is also true for foreign language learning where smartphones and their applications are used for practicing all four language skills and language structures. The purpose of this article is to survey the needs of university students as far as the functions and content of a mobile app for foreign language learning are concerned. The methodology was based on an online questionnaire survey, which was conducted among 103 students of the University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, in the period between 30 October 2020 and 24 January 2021. The findings reveal that the potential mobile applications for foreign language learning should be tailored to the language needs of students at the University of Hradec Králové; be targeted at their foreign language level between B1 and B2 of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages; be used at smartphones with Android operating system in particular; offer the possibility of repeating exercises and the combination of different teaching approaches; be free of charge and provide the possibility to choose a corresponding language level; be aimed at practicing specific language skills and knowledge; provide gamification features, offline version, online interaction, notifications; and finally, serve as support to the face-to-face classes.