Mobile application for foreign language learning by cognitively unimpaired seniors

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to analyze what features and content a mobile application (app) for foreign language learning, in this case, English, by cognitively unimpaired seniors should possess. The methodology was based on an online questionnaire survey, which was conducted among 113 cognitively healthy Czech seniors, who ranged in age, gender, and place of residence. The survey was conducted between 29 January 2021 and 31 March 2021 using Google forms. The findings reveal that the potential users of such a mobile app are seniors belonging to the age group between 50 and 69 years. They also indicate that a substantial majority of the elderly own a smartphone with the Android operating system. In addition, although some of them (39%) have already used mobile apps for learning English as a second language, there are those (27%) who have never exploited them. The positive features that seniors appreciate, in the tried educational language learning apps most often include clarity, ease of use, intuitiveness, the appearance of the user interface, and gamification features. On the contrary, they dislike a lack of clarity, lack of content, poor usability, and small fonts. Seniors generally use these apps once a week, and mostly at home. They usually use a mobile app for translating individual words, vocabulary learning, and practicing grammar. The findings of this survey study can be of interest to all stakeholders involved in the development of such mobile apps. In the future, there should be more research targeted at the examination and evaluation of mobile apps for elderly, taking in consideration their individual needs to improve quality of their life.