Designing strategic mobile-assisted language learning activity aimed at minimizing cultural attributes

Abstract

In this paper, we describe our experience to design mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) activity. The participants learned new knowledge in class and then applied it to the real world using mobile devices. Several strategies were applied by the instructors during the learning process to minimize cultural attributes of language learners inherent in Asian countries. In this study, we tested how our strategic learning activity can minimize cultural attributes of language learners inherent in Asian culture. Our results demonstrated that the strategic learning activity was useful in minimizing the cultural attributes, such as shyness, reservedness, passiveness, inhibition, lack of confidence, risk-avoidance, test-oriented learning, reliance on teachers for knowledge, memorization, and lack of creativity. Based on these results, we provide some implications and useful suggestions for educators and researchers.