Factors in the Usage of Mobile Phones in Japanese University EFL Classrooms

Abstract

This chapter considers factors that can play roles in the use of mobile phones in university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms in Japan. While recent developments have made such devices an increasingly attractive alternative to computers in education, issues such as cost and privacy have been noted by other research to be of some concern. This study investigated the use and perceptions of mobile phones by 249 university students studying EFL in Japan. Results indicated that although students declared varying levels of proficiency with their mobile phones, most were able to complete the tasks queried. Among factors that might inhibit successful implementation of the use of mobile phones for education, cost and security concerns were minimal, but student reservations about using mobile phones for educational tasks appeared to be a mediating factor.