The use of MALL EFL students at school level perceptions and challenges

Abstract

With the ubiquity of technology, the demand to utilize technological tools in education has increased, particularly in learning and teaching English as a foreign language. This study aimed to explore the attitudes and difficulties associated with mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) among English as a foreign language (EFL) students in Saudi Arabian schools. The research follows the quantitative method and employs the technology acceptance model with suggested external factors as the framework of the study. The questionnaire, comprising 29 items in the Likert scale style, serves as the study's main tool. 31 third-grade high school students, from Al Madinah Al Munawwarah educational directorate, recruited in the study. For analysis, the proposal model is analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. As a result, the study found largely positive attitudes toward using MALL for learning English. Moreover, the mean score analysis revealed a high percentage of mobile device ownership, potentially leading to significant time spent on these devices. However, the study found some challenges for the students that prevent them from using MALL effectively, such as the lack of school support and the high cost of some EFL learning applications. Future studies should expand the sample size and consider additional variables that could influence students' MALL utilization.