The methodological potential of mobile technologies in teaching Chinese language to students of non-linguistic areas of training is considered. The author defines the term “mobile learning,” offers a list of mobile technologies that can be used in teaching Chinese language, and develops a nomenclature of speech and language skills formed by students of non-linguistic training areas based on mobile technologies. The author demonstrated the advantages of using mobile phones in learning Chinese language as a second language. The areas of mobile language-based learning discussed in this research are vocabulary, listening, grammar, phonetics, and reading comprehension.
TopMobile Learning, Advantages And Disadvantages
Among all modern communication devices, mobile phones are the most powerful means of communication even richer than e-mail or chat, as it can act as a training device, despite its technical limitations. With such a learning device, the learner controls the learning process and progress in his/her own space, based on his/her cognitive state.
Learning through computer or e-learning allows students to learn in an environment without being in class when they are in front of their personal computers in the Internet or offline. However, learning via mobile phone or mobile learning gives students the opportunity to learn when they are on the bus, on the street, or at work and doing their job. In fact, they can study wherever they want.
The two main characteristics of mobile devices are portability and connectivity. With regard to communication, the design of a mobile system should be able to be in touch and communicate with the training site using the device’s wireless network to access training material everywhere, including a short message service (SMS) and mobile email. Portability allows students to move with a mobile device and receive training materials (Chen et al, 2008).
Some researchers claim the following properties of mobile devices:
- 1.
Portability: such devices can be used in different places due to their small size and weight (for example, buying an earpiece can free your hands from the phone);
- 2.
Social interactivity: data exchange and collaboration with other students can be carried out using mobile devices;
- 3.
Context sensitivity: data on mobile devices can be collected and assigned unambiguously to the current location and time;
- 4.
Connection: mobile devices can be connected to other devices, data collection devices or a shared network by creating a shared network;
- 5.
Individuality: platform activities can be customized individually for each student.