Iranian EFL Learners’ Attitudes Toward Autonomous English Learning Through the HelloTalk Mobile Application

Subject Areas : Journal of Language, Culture, and Translation

علی صادقی ¹ ( کارشناس ارشد آموزش زبان انگلیسی، گروه زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران )
عزیزه چالاک ² ( دانشیار آموزش زبان انگلیسی، گروه زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران )

Received: 2023-06-04 Accepted : 2023-08-24 Published : 2023-08-25

Keywords: self-directed learning, learner autonomy, Autonomy, Mobile-assisted language learning, HelloTalk Application,

Abstract :

This study investigated Iranian intermediate EFL learners' attitudes toward using the HelloTalk app to improve their independent learning ability. Moreover, it examined the experts’ and learners’ attitudes toward utilizing the application. The study enjoyed a quasi-experimental design. In doing so, 54 intermediate EFL learners were selected from Fargooyan Language Institute in Isfahan, Iran. In this connection, six experts in the field were also asked to review the app, complete a questionnaire, and provide written feedback to add multiple perspectives to the design. They received the TAM questionnaire for better results on the use of the app. Furthermore, the interview adopted from the TAM questionnaire was used to explore the external and internal factors involved in this type of mobile learning. The results revealed that utilizing the HelloTalk app significantly and positively affected Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ autonomy. Besides, experts and learners had a positive attitude toward using the application. The findings of this study could be fruitful for learners with enough competence but who do not know how to be autonomous through mobile applications. It could also provide insight into how technology tools and computer programs could facilitate teaching and learning English.