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A new trend in preparing for foreign language exam (YDS) in Turkey: Case of WhatsApp in mobile learning

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Abstract

This study has sought to reveal perceptions towards the employment of WhatsApp in foreign language learning, especially preparing for a national academic language exam. In this sense, this study is supposed to make contribution to employing WhatsApp in educational contexts. This study, designed as a case study, is to investigate the pros and cons of WhatsApp usage during preparations of foreign language proficiency exams. A total of 29 participants with different demographics and characteristics were recruited in this study. During the preparation for an academic exam called Foreign Language Exam (YDS), WhatsApp was included as a learning community to reinforce the activities conducted in regular classroom. Following the training period, the data were collected through a semi-structured interview form, prepared by the researchers. Content analysis method was used to analyses data. The findings indicate that according to participant's views, WhatsApp-supported foreign language activities have provided active learning, continuity of learning, learner-instructor interaction, learner satisfaction and motivation to learn foreign languages. However, the most frequently repeated code related to the weaknesses of WhatsApp activities is that this process is limited impact to ensure deeply learning and so these activities provide only superficial information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ereğli Faculty of Education, Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

    Mustafa Saritepeci

  2. Gazi Faculty of Education, Education Administration Department, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ali Duran

  3. Department of Computer Aided Design and Animation at Vocational School, Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey

    Uğur Ferhat Ermiş

Authors
  1. Mustafa Saritepeci
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  2. Ali Duran
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  3. Uğur Ferhat Ermiş
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Correspondence to Mustafa Saritepeci.

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Saritepeci, M., Duran, A. & Ermiş, U.F. A new trend in preparing for foreign language exam (YDS) in Turkey: Case of WhatsApp in mobile learning. Educ Inf Technol 24, 2677–2699 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09893-4

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