Dr Wong Lung Hsiang, Dr Chin Chee Kuen,  Dr Liu May, Dr Tan Chee Lay, Gong Cheng

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Abstract

In recent years, we witness the rise of communicative and contextualized approaches in language learning theories that is concomitant with developments in the paradigm of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). In this paper, we present a pilot study in MALL that emphasizes "creative learner outputs" and contexutalized meaning making. In learning Chinese idioms, students proactively used smartphones on a 1:1 (one-device-per-person) basis to capture photos of the real-life contexts pertaining to the idioms, and to construct sentences with them,. Subsequently, in-class or online sharing and discussions on the contexts took place, which would enhance the students' understanding in the proper usage of the idioms. The learning design is grounded in the seamless learning model (Chan et al., 2006) that encompass in-class formal learning and out-of-class informal setting, and personal and social learning spaces. The students' ongoing, open-ended, personal-to-social meaning making process and artifacts have indeed shown some indicators of "seamless language learning" that has the potential of transforming language learning into an authentic learning experience.