A master thesis in the English Department at the College of Arts at the University of Basrah (Investigating the effect of using language with the help of mobile phones on the performance of speaking skills among university students).
The thesis presented by researcher Hanin Abdul Hussein Tawfiq included five chapters (introduction, theoretical framework, previous studies, research methodology, data analysis, recommendations, results, analysis, and recommendations).
The thesis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of adopting the use of mobile-based learning (MALL) in improving university students speaking skills. It also seeks to examine the impact of MALL on target language acquisition and speaking skills by using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and David Harris model as theoretical frameworks. The research also focuses on analyzing the impact of SDT concepts on students’ autonomy, motivation, and engagement during the language learning process.
The study concluded that university students prefer face-to-face learning over online methods and with the exception of using apps as complementary tools, mobile learning (MALL) technology was useful but insufficient as the sole teaching method.
The thesis recommends that future studies on mobile learning (MALL) should be conducted, particularly when compared to David Harris’s motivational model and the intrinsic motivation theory (SDT). Long-term studies should be conducted to track motivation and speaking performance over time, using mixed methodologies to integrate qualitative and quantitative data, comparing MALL to traditional methods with a focus on motivational factors, and designing interventions to increase motivation through MALL.
