Familiarization Strategies to Facilitate Mobile-Assisted Language Learning in Unfamiliar Learning Environments: A Study of Strategies Development and Their Validation

• Published in: Innovative Technologies and Learning pp. 213 - 217
• Main Authors: Shadiev, Rustam, Yang, Meng-Ke, Atamuratov, Dilshod, Shadiev, Narzikul, Fayziev, Mirzaali, Gaevskaia, Elena, Kalizhanova, Anna, Oshanova, Nurzhamal
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing
• Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
• Subjects: English; Environment; Familiarization strategies; MALL; Unfamiliar
• ISBN: 3031152727; 9783031152726
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15273-3_24

Educators and researchers design mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) activities in authentic learning environments so that language learners are able to practice their skills there. However, some of such environments are unfamiliar to learners (e.g. zoo) because they visit them seldom. Unfamiliarity with learning environments may hinder language learning and not many MALL studies focused on this problem. In this study, familiarization strategies were developed in order to familiarize language learners with unfamiliar learning environments and to facilitate their mobile-assisted language learning in unfamiliar learning environments. A focus group was carried out with eight English teachers of seventh grade to explore their opinions and suggestions regarding developed strategies. The results showed that familiarization strategies can be useful for familiarization with unfamiliar learning environments. Based on a focus group some strategies were modified and some were deleted.