Arhiva CHIROBOCEA Olivia
Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii “Ovidius” Constanţa nr.30 / 2019 nr 1
CHIROBOCEA Olivia - MALL FOR ESP. ENHANCING MOTIVATION AND PROMOTING LANGUAGE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
(pag. 33-43)
In a competitive world where technology evolves practically on a daily basis, we, as language teachers and especially as ESP practitioners, must stay up to date and involve this technological progress into the teaching process. MALL (Mobile-Assisted Language Learning) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes) are compatible in more than one regard as they both address the conditions of our society and are rooted in present needs. While MALL is usually seen as an alternative to the classroom-type learning process, mobile devices can be turned by the teacher in the traditional setting, from a nuisance and attention disrupters to valuable tools that bring the students closer to the learning process. Using the smartphone, an object the students are very attached to, and getting them involved in activities closer to their everyday interests should have a significant effect on their motivation level. Also, involving this object into the language learning process will develop skills and tap into resources for further learning, beyond the classroom. This article will discuss some of the main points made by the extensive research done over the past ten years in regards to the uses of MALL for language learning in general, and ESP in particular, addressing the important topic of learner motivation and some of the advantages this method has at tertiary level.