MALL

Hello everybody!

Today, mobile devices have penetrated so much into our lives that we no longer imagine our existence without phones. Previously, it was only a means of communication, but now the phone is a multi-functional gadget and communication is just one function from the huge diversity of others. Like many innovative technologies, mobile applications also become one of the tools in teaching foreign languages. Today I want to tell you about the MALL (Mobile-Assisted Language Learning) and some of its special features.

➤ What is the MALL?

Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) describes an approach to language learning that is assisted or enhanced through the use of a handheld mobile device. MALL is a subset of both Mobile Learning (m-learning) and Computer-assisted language learning (CALL). MALL is language learning using mobile devices such as: 

• Cell (mobile) phones (including the iPhone or iPad.) 
• MP3 or MP4 players (e.g. iPods) 
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) (e.g. Palm Pilot, Blackberry, etc)

With MALL, students are able to access language learning materials and to communicate with their teachers and peers at anytime, anywhere.

➤ The main principles of MALL

• Access. You can get access to the mobile applications training foreign languages everywhere and at any time through your mobile device.
• Diversity. As learning environments change constantly, that  MALL involves a lot of new materials for learning.
• Play. Types of exercises in mobile applications help changing the tone of learning from academic and compliant to personal and playful.
• Self-study. The student performs the task at any convenient time and can immediately see his mistakes, as well as explanations to them.

➤ QR-code

I believe that many are familiar with QR-codes. Now they are used everywhere, including in education. But how to do that? Consider the example. Suppose, on the subject "Practice of Translation" we have a book, the author of which is Kanapatskaya Z.I. Unfortunately, in the Internet there is no free access to this book and it can be bought only in the shop of the linguistic university. But Zorina Ibragimovna gladly shares with us the QR-code, which gives a direct link to the download of the book. Or in the electronic notes on the subject "Foreign Literature" there are many codes next to the description of the creative activity of different authors. We can see, for example, Hemingway's portrait and the main works only by scanning the code.

➤ Quizlet

➤ AUGMENTED REALITY

Not long ago, the elements of augmented reality began to be used in the newspaper of the Belarusian State University. For example, using the Aurasma, you can scan the photo from the newspaper and then see the video. I find this innovation very interesting and relevant to the current century of high technology. It's very convenient to see a video from a newspaper report without an additional search. I hope that in the future elements of augmented reality will be used everywhere, including our education, since it is very convenient and easy to use.