Realizing the Potential of Mobile Phone Technology for Language Learning

Abstract

This paper focuses on the exploitation of mobile phone technology for thelearning of foreign languages. It begins by considering the obstaclesfacing the effective use of mobile phone technology for language learning.In doing so, the paper describes four challenges that have to be overcomefor mobile phone technology to become an effective pedagogical tool.Specifically: Intrusiveness, Cost, Practical technological constraints andPedagogical methodologies. Having defined the issues that need to beaddressed, the paper then proceeds to describe how these challenges havebeen met in the design of MobLang, an EU funded Lifelong Learningproject.