AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF MOBILE- ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING THROUGH SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS

Technology has indeed revolutionized social interaction in the modern era including education. In today’s world, smartphones have become an integral part of the learning system through the various applications. With the surge in demand for interactive and engaging learning experiences, modern education has adopted technological advancements to enhance academic standards and has proven to be a remarkable boon for the education sector. The extensive use of smartphones has completely modified the traditional methods of teaching and learning. Hence, students find it more user-friendly and productive to learn through mobile devices supported by internet connectivity. The wide spread use of smartphones has led to the exposure of numerous mobile applications for language learning particularly in English. Despite the ease of downloading and installing these applications, maintaining focus and consistently following structured lessons can be challenging for learners. This study in specific examines the role of educational mobile applications in assisting language learning among tertiary-level students of Bachelor of Computer Applications in Vaagdevi Degree College, Hanumakonda particularly in improving their speaking skills. It delves into the divergence among different language learning platforms and explores how these digital tools contribute to and benefit from students’ interaction and personalised learning experience. The study basically analyses the benefits of mobile-assisted language learning, highlights the motivational methodologies utilised by these applications including reward frameworks, reward focuses and gamified life lessons to encourage active learning. A substantial number of tertiary-level students yearn to develop their communication skills to enhance their career prospects. Nevertheless, many of them encounter uneasiness and wavering while taking part in classroom discussions or inquiring questions in a time-honoured setting. Thus, they prefer self-directed learning through versatile applications, permitting them to practice speaking aptitudes freely and without constraint. By utilising technology, these students can enhance their language proficiency and work toward their academic professional goals more effectively. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive examination of how selected mobile applications are reshaping language learning by encouraging students to overcome barriers to effective communication and fostering a more independent and immersive learning experience.

Mobile Applications, Technology, Language learning applications, Speaking skills, Language proficiency.