With the increasing use of technology in language education, understanding the benefits and barriers of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) is crucial for effective integration. Qualitative data were collected through interviews among Chinese English teachers in universities. Thematic analysis was employed to identify themes. The findings reveal that Chinese English teachers perceive MALL to offer benefits like convenience, effectiveness, efficiency, engagement, personalization, and resource richness. However, several barriers were identified, including low teacher ability, student device misuse, lack of institutional support, technical limitations, health concerns, and time constraints. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of MALL in Chinese universities and have implications for language teaching practice.
Zhai X, Shi C, 2020, The Implementation Status, Challenges and Prospect of Ten-Year Development Plan for Educational Informationization (2011–2020). Modern Educational Technology, 30(12): 20–27.
Metruk R, 2020, Confronting the Challenges of MALL: Distraction, Cheating, and Teacher Readiness. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 15(2): 4–14.
Panagiotis A, Penelope K, 2020, Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL): Trends from 2010 to 2020 Using Text Analysis Techniques. European Journal of Education, 3(3): 84–93.
Zain DSM, Bowles FA, 2021, Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) for Higher Education Instructional Practices in EFL/ESL Contexts: A Recent Review of Literature. Computer-Assisted Language Learning, 22(1): 282–307.
Kukulska-Hulme A, 2020, Mobile-Assisted Language Learning, in The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics, Wiley, New Jersey, 1–9.
Chen Z, Jia J, 2020, Twenty Years’ Researcher on MALL in China: Review and Outlook. Foreign Language World, (01): 88–95.
Ertmer PA, 1999, Addressing First- and Second-Order Barriers to Change: Strategies for Technology Integration. Educational Technology Research & Development, 47(4): 47e61.
Cervantes E, 2023, Why Is My Phone’s Battery Draining So Fast? Android Authority, viewed March 15, 2025, https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-battery-draining-fast-fix-1052999/
Hafour MF, 2022, The Effects of MALL Training on Preservice and In-Service EFL Teachers’ Perceptions and Use of Mobile Technology. ReCALL, 2022: 1–17.
Yu A, 2019, Understanding Information Technology Acceptance and Effectiveness in College Students’ English Learning in China, Ph.D. dissertation.
Sophonhiranrak S, 2021, Features, Barriers, and Influencing Factors of Mobile Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Heliyon, 7(4): e06696.
Zou C, Li P, Jin L, 2021, Online College English Education in Wuhan against the COVID-19 Pandemic: Student and Teacher Readiness, Challenges and Implications. PLOS ONE, 16(10): e0258137.
Criollo CS, Guerrero-Arias A, Jaramillo-Alcazar A, et al., 2021, Mobile Learning Technologies for Education: Benefits and Pending Issues. Applied Sciences, 11(9): 4111.
Mortazavi M, Nasution MK, Abdolahzadeh F, et al., 2021, Sustainable Learning Environment by Mobile-Assisted Language Learning Methods on the Improvement of Productive and Receptive Foreign Language Skills: A Comparative Study for Asian Universities. Sustainability, 13(11): 6328.
Li X, 2022, The Effectiveness of Mobile-assisted Language Learning (MALL) Applications on the Spoken English Assessments in China’s Universities, 2021 International Conference on Social Development and Media Communication, Atlantis Press.
Maarouf S, 2022, Students’ Attitudes Towards Using Smartphones in English Language Learning During the Spread of COVID-19. A Field Study in the Secondary Schools in Lattakia Governorate. Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology, 19(4): 7.
Burston J, Athanasiou A, 2020, Twenty-Five Years of MALL Experimental Implementation Studies: What Do We Really Know About It? In Recent Tools for Computer- and Mobile-Assisted Foreign Language Learning, 35–59.
Shadiev R, Wang X, Halubitskaya Y, et al., 2022, Enhancing Foreign Language Learning Outcomes and Mitigating Cultural Attributes Inherent in Asian Culture in a Mobile-Assisted Language Learning Environment. Sustainability, 14(14): 8428.
Krisbiantoro B, Pujiani T, 2021, The Effectiveness of MALL and Flipped Classroom in Teaching Writing to the Eleventh Graders of SMA in Banyumas. EduLite: Journal of English Education, Literature and Culture, 6: 86.
Li J, Gao M, Tu X, 2021, Research on Pre-service English Teachers’ Professional Ability Development Preference Based on MALL. Theory & Practice in Language Studies, 11(3): 295–301.
Dai Y, Wu Z, 2021, Mobile-Assisted Pronunciation Learning with Feedback from Peers And/Or Automatic Speech Recognition: A Mixed-Methods Study. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 2021: 1–24.
Puebla C, Fievet T, Tsopanidi M, et al., 2022, Mobile-Assisted Language Learning in Older Adults: Chances and Challenges. ReCALL, 34(2): 169–184.
Gao S, Sun N, 2021, Research on College English Teachers’ Informational Teaching Competence based on TPACK. Journal of Liaoning Teachers College (Social Sciences Edition), 01: 65–66.
Villa EJE, Figueredo ORB, Lobo APM, 2018, El M-Learning en la Educacion Superior en Colombia: Un Caso de Aplicacion. Vol. Numero 14. Publicaciones FAC.