Mobile-assisted Autonomous English Learning:Status Quo,Perceptions And Difficulties Of Junior High School Students

With the popularity of mobile technology,it has become a hot topic in foreign language learning research that students use mobile technology to perform autonomous English learning.By reviewing the literature,the study found that the research mainly focused on college students’ mobile-assisted autonomous English learning(MAAEL),lacking the research focused on junior high school students’ MAAEL.Exploring junior high school students’ MAAEL perceptions is not only helpful to students’ English learning,but also helpful to the implementation of English curriculum reform for compulsory education in China.Therefore,this study investigates the junior high school students’ MAAEL current situation,perceptions of MAAEL and difficulties they encountered in MAAEL by a mixed study method.In order to comprehensively understand junior high school students’ perceptions of MAAEL,this study raises the following questions: 1): What is the current situation of MAAEL of junior high school students? 2): How do junior high school students perceive mobile-assisted autonomous English learning? 3)What difficulties do junior high school students perceive in using mobile technology to perform autonomous English learning? In this study,the questionnaire was used to investigate 224 junior high school students’ MAAEL current situation and their perceptions of MAAEL.In addition,the semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted with 6 junior high school students to deepen understanding of their perceptions of MAAEL and difficulties they encountered in MAAEL.Results revealed that: 1)Junior high school students usually use mobile technology to perform autonomous English learning outside school rather than inside school.Generally speaking,many students use mobile technology to conduct autonomous English learning for less than an hour per day.Many students use mobile technology to perform autonomous English learning when they need to solve English problems.The most common English learning software is digital dictionary and translation software.2)Junior high school students’ perceived MAAEL level is good,with the best performance in the aspects of autonomous learning willingness,followed by autonomous learning confidence,autonomous learning ability and autonomous learning behavior.There is no significant gender difference in students’ perceived MAAEL level.Students’ perceived MAAEL level in Grade 1 are significantly higher than those in Grade 2 and Grade 3(except for MAAEL willingness).Junior high school students’ perceived advantages of MAAEL include enriching learning resources,providing convenience and helping to self-monitor and self-evaluate.Junior high school students’ perceived disadvantages of MAAEL include causing distraction and harming eyesight.3)The difficulties junior high school students perceived in MAAEL includes limited self-control ability,insufficient self-monitoring ability and lack of support from significant others.This study is helpful for teachers,students and scholars to understand junior high school students’ current situation of MAAEL.Besides,this study provides enlightenment and suggestions for the education department to improve the mobile-assisted autonomous English learning level of junior high school students.