Use of mobile learning activities to improve the low level in speaking skill in the tenth year of EGB at ‘Gran Colombia’ high school, in Quito, during the first term, September 2016 – November 2016

Abstract

Researchers around the world are dealing with the fact that education is changing by leaps and bounds, which means that teachers have to rethink their way to teach their students. As EFL teachers the challenge is more difficult because teachers have to face with other problems as the scarce of language input, students' demotivation, low level of English, etc. For this reason, this study was thought to help teachers to deal with those problems that are affecting the teaching-learning process. For the purpose of this study, mobile phones were considered as a technological tool to make students empower of their learning process and overcoat that they are able to construct their own knowledge through mobile learning activities adapted according to their level, needs and interests. In other words, as mobile phones are easy to carry them in a pocket, bag or any other place and have a number of applications (photos, videos, audios, etc.), it was possible the implementation of mobile learning activities that encourage students to participate actively in class. Moreover, some worksheets were used to accomplish the objectives of this study due to the fact that students had a low level of English. They served as a pattern, once students understand what and how to fulfil an activity they did not need more support. As this is a field study, it was conducted on forty students of tenth year of EGB attending high school. The methodology for data collection encompassed a pre-test and post-test, a quantitative analysis and the use of Z-score. Findings of this study are of relevant importance for other teachers and researchers that are interested in innovating classroom activities with new ideas, methods and with the use of technological devices.