<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Easy and cheap access to the Internet and a wide array of new technologies, such as smartphones, have multiplied opportunities for online informal learning of English (OILE). Yet, despite sizeable research, few studies have examined the issue of OILE in the context of university students of different disciplines. The aim of this research study was to examine the role of online language use through smartphones among students of various disciplines and its possible effects on enhancement of their foreign language skills. The study assumed both qualitative and quantitative methodology encompassing three research instruments: an online survey, the self-assessment language competence grid of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL; Council of Europe, 2001) and a semi-structured interview. Data were collected with 377 students from two universities: University of Białystok, Poland and University of Osijek, Croatia. The research outcomes indicate that both Croatian and Polish students of different disciplines use their smartphones chiefly for receptive activities with infrequent use for language learning purposes and the predominant use of the mother tongue or English for the listed online activities through smartphones do not significantly affect the self-assessed level of their communicative competence in English. However, it can be stated that the choice of the preponderant language for online use through smartphones, especially for study-related issues, is conditioned by the students’ discipline of study.</p></abstract>

Easy and cheap access to the Internet and a wide array of new technologies, such as smartphones, have multiplied opportunities for online informal learning of English (OILE). Yet, despite sizeable research, few studies have examined the issue of OILE in the context of university students of different disciplines. The aim of this research study was to examine the role of online language use through smartphones among students of various disciplines and its possible effects on enhancement of their foreign language skills. The study assumed both qualitative and quantitative methodology encompassing three research instruments: an online survey, the self-assessment language competence grid of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL; Council of Europe, 2001) and a semi-structured interview. Data were collected with 377 students from two universities: University of Białystok, Poland and University of Osijek, Croatia. The research outcomes indicate that both Croatian and Polish students of different disciplines use their smartphones chiefly for receptive activities with infrequent use for language learning purposes and the predominant use of the mother tongue or English for the listed online activities through smartphones do not significantly affect the self-assessed level of their communicative competence in English. However, it can be stated that the choice of the preponderant language for online use through smartphones, especially for study-related issues, is conditioned by the students’ discipline of study.

The Role of Smartphones for Online Language Use in the Context of Polish and Croatian Students of Different Disciplines

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Easy and cheap access to the Internet and a wide array of new technologies, such as smartphones, have multiplied opportunities for online informal learning of...

The Role of Smartphones for Online Language Use in the Context of Polish and Croatian Students of Different Disciplines

Published Online: Oct 18, 2019

Page range: 173 - 193

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2019-0022

Keywords
English for Specific Purposes (ESP), communicative competence, mobile language learning, online informal learning of English (OILE), discipline of study

© 2019 Halina Sierocka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Role of Smartphones for Online Language Use in the Context of Polish and Croatian Students of Different Disciplines

Published Online: Oct 18, 2019

Page range: 173 - 193

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2019-0022

KeywordsEnglish for Specific Purposes (ESP), communicative competence, mobile language learning, online informal learning of English (OILE), discipline of study

© 2019 Halina Sierocka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
English for Specific Purposes (ESP), communicative competence, mobile language learning, online informal learning of English (OILE), discipline of study