Students’ Perceptions and Implementation of Mobile Assisted Language Learning Two Universities in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia in Focus
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Abstract
This study assessed EFL students’ perceptions and practice of mobile-assisted language learning with reference to two government universities in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The study employed a descriptive survey design in which data were gathered from 95 EFL English major students from Debre Markos and Injibara universities. A questionnaire of 29 items (26 closed-ended and 3 open-ended) was employed to collect the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one sample t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient whereas the qualitative data were analyzed through narration. The results revealed that English major EFL students have a positive perception on the use of mobile phones for assisting language learning. The one sample t-test result showed the grand mean of participants’ perception was significantly higher than the population mean (t (.503) =8.87, p<.05). The sample mean of 3.50 (SD=.55) was significantly greater than the population mean (3.00). The result also revealed that students’ practice of mobile phones to assist English language learning was significantly high (t (.247) =3.75, p< .05). The sample mean of 3.25 (SD=.641) was significantly higher than the population mean (3.00). However, Pearson’s correlation analysis showed the relationship between the student’s perception and practice of mobile-assisted language learning was weak that was not significant (r (93) = .139, p>0.05); the participants’ perception was not related to their practice of mobile assisted language learning. The qualitative data analysis finding also supported the quantitative one and pinpointed different challenges attributed to the low-level use of mobile-assisted language learning: lack of ICT knowledge, interest, training and the unaffordability of smartphones. Recommendations were forwarded to different bodies based on the findings.
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