Empirical Study on the Influence of Mobile Apps on Improving English Speaking Skills in School Students

Abstract

Since technology provides adaptable, learner-centered opportunities for language acquisition, smartphones, and mobile applications have become indispensable in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, especially in higher education. Research indicates that both teachers and students view mobile learning as an effective tool for learning foreign languages and that mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has made significant strides in offering resources and language exercises that can be completed at any time and place. The objective of this empirical study is to evaluate how mobile apps affect EFL students' English-speaking abilities and look into the relationship between skill development and app usage frequency. Additionally, it looks for potential moderating and mediating factors that affect how well mobile applications improve English speaking, illuminating the complex dynamics present in the EFL learning environment. The study used a concurrent embedded design and collected data on students' attitudes and views of smartphone English language learning apps (ELLA) through the use of a 26-item questionnaire. The questionnaire had a good degree of internal consistency with a score of 0.95 following data analysis, and t-tests were used to evaluate significant differences between groups. The data were gathered using a Likert scale. The results show that using mobile apps improves English-speaking abilities moderately but consistently, regardless of socioeconomic status. An important factor in this relationship is self-motivation. With beneficial ramifications for educators and legislators, the study highlights the potential of mobile apps as a useful tool for improving English proficiency among different student populations.