Leiden University Student Repository

Doorn, Catelijn van (2017)

What Makes a Good App? A Study on the must-have Features and Added Value of Digital Language Learning Applications for High School Teachers and Students

Bachelor thesis | Engelse taal en cultuur (BA)

This thesis intended to find must-have features and the added value of digital language learning applications (DLLAs) based on the opinions and attitudes of both high school teachers and students. This information was obtained through qualitative interviews. These results were then compared to the findings of the literature review. Ultimately, four must-have features and two main elements of added value were found. It is important that (1) DLLAs are free, (2) they need to be adjustable, (3) their interface needs to be user-friendly and (4) there needs to be an element of control for the teachers. Most of these must-have features have been considered by researchers, although they have not always been implemented thoroughly. The added value of DLLAs can be found in (1) time-saving and (2) the personalisation of language learning. It is important that developers take these findings into account when developing new DLLAs, for their products to be practical in use and to have added value...Show moreThis thesis intended to find must-have features and the added value of digital language learning applications (DLLAs) based on the opinions and attitudes of both high school teachers and students. This information was obtained through qualitative interviews. These results were then compared to the findings of the literature review. Ultimately, four must-have features and two main elements of added value were found. It is important that (1) DLLAs are free, (2) they need to be adjustable, (3) their interface needs to be user-friendly and (4) there needs to be an element of control for the teachers. Most of these must-have features have been considered by researchers, although they have not always been implemented thoroughly. The added value of DLLAs can be found in (1) time-saving and (2) the personalisation of language learning. It is important that developers take these findings into account when developing new DLLAs, for their products to be practical in use and to have added value besides merely replacing paper notepads.Show less

second language learning

MALL

CALL

mobile learning

mobile applications

web applications

Author

Doorn, Catelijn van

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Smakman, Dick

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en