Mobile-assisted language learning for EFL speaking development
Evidence from the use of the Poro English application
Keywords:
Mobile-Assisted Language Learning, MALL, Speaking Skills, EFL Learners, PORO English ApplicationAbstract
This study investigated the use of the PORO English Application as a mobile-assisted language learning resource to support EFL students’ speaking performance. The study employed a one-group pre-test–post-test design involving 30 second-grade students at SMPN 8 Palopo. Data were collected through speaking assessments covering four dimensions: vocabulary, fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test. The findings showed an increase in students’ overall speaking performance, with the mean score rising from 4.47 in the pre-test to 7.93 in the post-test. Improvements were also observed across all four assessed dimensions. The paired-samples analysis yielded a t-value of 30.196 with 29 degrees of freedom, indicating a statistically significant difference between students’ pre-test and post-test scores based on the statistical criterion used in the study. These findings suggest that PORO can serve as a useful supplementary resource for providing learners with repeated exposure to spoken English and opportunities for oral practice. However, because the study did not include a control group, the findings should be interpreted as evidence of improvement following the intervention rather than definitive evidence of a causal effect of the application.
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References
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