Factors Influencing University Students’ Intention to Engage in Mobile-assisted Language Learning through the Lens of Action Control Theory

Abstract

Mobile technology is regarded as a helpful tool facilitating language learning. However, the success of mobile technology largely depends on learners’ acceptance. This study explored the factors that may affect students’ intention formation regarding mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in the context of higher education through the lens of action control theory. The study adopted mixed methods: an online survey of 557 students and individual interviews with 70 students. The findings indicated factors in each of the three dimensions (preoccupation, hesitation, and volatility) of action control theory that positively or negatively influenced the students’ intention to use mobile technology for language learning. According to the findings, these influential factors may be related experiences in the preoccupation dimension, design and feature interference of MALL applications and teachers’ teaching style influence in the hesitation dimension, and overall appraisal and performance impact and other novelty interference in the volatility dimension. Students’ success in initiating and completing a MALL task depends on mainly depends on their acceptance of MALL, and this acceptance is affected by these factors in a positive or negative direction. The strengthening of the positive influence and the weakening of the negative influence caused by these factors should be paid attention to in the process of performing and engaging in a MALL task. Students’ concerns regarding the use of mobile technology in language education are addressed with suggestions for future research and practice in light of the findings.

Keywords

• mobile technology
• language learning
• learning intention
• action control
• higher education