Using WhatsApp increases language students' self‐motivation and achievement, and decreases learning anxiety: A self‐determination theory approach.

Background: Mobile‐assisted language learning (MALL) has long been advocated to promote students' language study outcomes. However, little is known about how using instant messaging applications (an example of MALL) affect student motivation, language anxiety, and actual achievement. Objectives: To...

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Publicado en:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 417 - 432
Autores principales: Alamer, Abdullah, Al Khateeb, Ahmed, Jeno, Lucas M.
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Apr2023
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning
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      dt: Apr2023
      vid: 39
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        10.1111/jcal.12753
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        atl: Using WhatsApp increases language students' self‐motivation and achievement, and decreases learning anxiety: A self‐determination theory approach.
      aug:
        au:
          Alamer, Abdullah
          Al Khateeb, Ahmed
          Jeno, Lucas M.
        affil: College of Arts, Department of English, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
      sug:
        subj:
          Instant Messaging Utilization
          Mobile Applications Utilization
          Relational Autonomy
          Motivation
          Psychological Theory Methods
          Self Regulation
          Language Development
          Learning Methods
          Anxiety Prevention and Control
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adolescence
          Young Adult
          Students, Undergraduate
          Saudi Arabia
          Quasi-Experimental Studies
          Structural Equation Modeling
          Descriptive Statistics
          Comparative Studies
          External Validity
          Convenience Sample
          Summated Rating Scaling
          Analysis of Variance
          Correlational Studies
          Reliability and Validity
          Repeated Measures
          Confidence Intervals
          Prediction Models
          Student Satisfaction
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Mobile‐assisted language learning (MALL) has long been advocated to promote students' language study outcomes. However, little is known about how using instant messaging applications (an example of MALL) affect student motivation, language anxiety, and actual achievement. Objectives: To help close this gap, we have conducted a quasi‐experimental study, in which we have used self‐determination theory to test a mediational process model, in an effort to understand the psychological mechanisms that underlie the effect of instant messaging applications on student outcomes. Methods: Two groups of Saudi undergraduate students (N = 447) were recruited to participate in the study. Participants under the experimental condition were invited to engage in language‐related tasks with their teacher outside of class through the WhatsApp application, whereas participants under the control condition received standard teaching. We applied partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM) to test our model. Results and Conclusions: The results of the PLS‐SEM showed that the total effects of using instant messaging applications on autonomous motivation and L2 achievement were significant but that language anxiety was influenced only indirectly and negatively through language achievement. Also, the PLS‐SEM showed that our results have strong predcitive power indicating support for external validity. Implications: Our results show that instant messaging applications can be used to facilitate interest and achievement and to decrease anxiety. Furthermore, we are contributing to L2 methodological literature by using applications of PLS‐SEM in experimental designs that can help researchers and practitioners of motivational processes. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Using WhatsApp and more broadly instant messaging applications are conceived to be motivating in language teaching contextStudies indicate students are inclined toward using these applications in language learningResearch shows that using WhatsApp is easy to apply for language teaching purposes What this paper adds: The study examined the effect of using WhatsApp on language learners' motivation, achievement, and language anxietyA pre‐ and post‐test approach with experimental and control condition has been used to evaluate the effect more accuratelyThe study employs Self‐determination Theory as a theoretical framework for testing a motivational process modelResults show that using WhatsApp predicted the outcomes directly and indirectly Implications for practice and/or policy: WhatsApp can significantly encourage university students to better learning of the language skills especially in times where face‐to‐face communication is limitedWhatsApp is conditioned by the guidance of instructors, their ongoing formative and summative assessmentWhatsApp appears to allow students enjoy their learning process due to the opportunities for collaborative work and constant exchange of content
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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