Mongolian Students' Digital Literacy Practices: The Interface Between English and the Internet

Abstract

Over the last few decades, Mongolia has experienced social, economic, technological and political changes. Those changes have contributed to the growing cultural status of English mediated in particular through the digital literacy practices of young Mongolians. However, much of the digital and new media research takes place in predominantly Anglo-American contexts (RINSLOO & ROWSELL, 2012) and not much is known about what shapes Mongolian university students' use of digital technologies. The research reported on here aims to fill this gap. Drawing on perspectives offered by the field of Literacy Studies, which analyses literacy practices within the social and cultural contexts in which they occur, and employing a mixed methods approach, the research examines how Mongolian university students majoring in English used digital technologies, especially the internet, in their everyday lives. Data were generated through a survey of 98 students and through observations of and interviews with six case study participants who came from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The findings indicate that most students' digital literacy practices were directed towards improving their English. They used digital technologies strategically by negotiating the issues of cost and time, and exercised agency in personalising the technologies to support their English learning and eventually to improve their social positions. However, the findings also suggest that the participants' engagement with digital technologies was shaped by contextual and structural factors which included family background, personal resources such as English proficiency, digital literacies and aspirations. The research considers how the findings may inform improvements to educational practices around the teaching and learning of English and digital literacies in Mongolian universities.

Social Media for Scholarly Communication in Central Asia and Its Neighbouring Countries

“…In Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, free wireless Internet is provided to the dormitory residents of University. 42 The lack of space in the dormitories is a disadvantage for the rural students not accommodated in the dormitories. Teachers responsible for higher secondary education, use Facebook and YouTube to complement their teaching.…”

“…Teachers responsible for higher secondary education, use Facebook and YouTube to complement their teaching. 42 For quick contact with their students and dissemination of information teachers popularly use Facebook. Thus, students living in private accommodation with fluctuating Internet access in difficult terrains are at a major disadvantage.…”

“…However, the English language has crept its way into the Mongolian culture. 42 The strife to perfect their English language is prevalent in the youth as they are of the belief that their English-speaking skills will provide them with better academic and career opportunities. 41 Mongolian physicians and doctors easily adopt health policies which promote computer skills and English language among doctors.…”

Mongolian Pre-Service English Teachers’ Voices about Their Teaching Practicum Experiences

“…In fact, in the early 2000s there were active discussions on making English an official second language at the governmental level [2]. Moreover, the English language is closely linked to educational and economic opportunities, employability, personal development, and social mobility in the country [3][4][5]. Thus, for Mongolia, it has become pivotal to continuously improve the quality of English language education and address the demands for multilingualism in an age of intensifying globalization.…”

Digital Literacy Of The Population: Regional Features

“…A study on the digital literacy of Mongolian students carried out by Marav (2016), the scientist of the National University of Mongolia, is also of interest; according to it, the level of digital literacy of Mongolian students is inextricably linked with the level of English language proficiency.…”