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The role of electronic pocket dictionaries as an English learning tool among Chinese students |
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| Authors: | Hua-Li Jian Frode Eika Sandnes † Kris M Y Law ‡ Yo-Ping Huang§ & Yueh-Min Huang¶ |
| Affiliation: | Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Faculty of Engineering, Oslo University College, Oslo, Norway; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taipei, University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Engineering Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 701 |
| Abstract: | This study addressed the role of electronic pocket dictionaries as a language learning tool among university students in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The target groups included engineering and humanities students at both undergraduate and graduate level. Speed of reference was found to be the main motivator for using an electronic pocket dictionary. Next, the functionality used was found to be connected to the language proficiency of the learner. Finally, multimedia content was ranked least important. The results of this study have implications for the design of electronic dictionaries and for the teaching of second languages with electronic dictionaries. In particular, device developers should focus on improving the accessing speed and pay less attention to multimedia functionality. Educators should ensure that the device functionality matches the language proficiency level of the students. |
| Keywords: | electronic dictionary human-computer interface mobile learning second language learning |