English Language Learning Outcomes of a Research-Based Digital App for Chinese and Japanese Children

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: K–12 Education and Instructional Technology (Table 21)

Abstract

Research on digital, educational game-based apps shows that they can be effective at helping young children develop language skills, particularly when paired with formal instruction (Hazar, 2020; Hwang & Wang, 2016; Mazaji & Tabatabaei, 2016). It is important to also understand how educational games perform in the absence of formal instruction, given children’s proficiency with (and interest in) using mobile devices anytime, anywhere. This presentation reports findings from two empirical studies that investigated the impact of a digital app on English L2 learning of young (5–6- and 7–8-year-old) children in China and Japan over a 4- and a 6-month period. The app was designed based on principles of L2 research on developmental sequences as well as L2 motivation.

Authors

• Hee Jin Bang, Age of Learning

• Alison Mackey, Georgetown University

• Akiko Fujii, International Christian University