Mobile Use and Language Learning: Current Status and Future Directions

Abstract

In this review, we aim to elaborate on research on mobile use and language learning/teaching and suggest the most fruitful research approach that can help in cultivating this area. The studies carried out on mobile use in language teaching and learning process have been introduced and critically analyzed with respect to three broad areas including pedagogical role of mobiles, sociocultural role of mobiles and different stakeholders’ perception of mobile use in the language teaching and learning process. In this paper, we argue that previous research on the use of mobiles in the process of learning has not taken all aspects into account to give us a clear picture of how mobile learning works. In addition, the psychological influence of mobile learning on students’ language learning is largely ignored. As such, the socio-cultural ecology approach is recommended as an efficient approach for doing research in this field. Finally, further research gaps are mentioned to be considered in future studies. It is hoped that this review would shed light on mobile learning research and development.